Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.  The Forestry Ministry will make it mandatory for Mount Rinjani climbers to use a real-time tracking application starting late August, following several recent accidents involving foreign tourists on the popular Lombok hiking destination.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said Wednesday that the measure aims to improve hiker safety and speed up rescue operations. The ministry is working with the Indonesian Mountaineering Federation (FMI) to develop the app, which can monitor hikers’ locations via their mobile phones.

“With this system, we can see the whereabouts of hiking groups, whether they start from Sembalun or elsewhere,” Raja Juli said. “In dangerous areas, we will install signal boosters. The goal is zero waste and zero accidents — no litter and no casualties.”

The initiative follows a trial run during a temporary trail closure. Full deployment will begin once internet coverage is strengthened along the Mount Rinjani National Park trails. Raja Juli said the program will serve as a pilot before being expanded to other mountains nationwide.

In addition to the tracking system, the ministry is preparing new standard operating procedures, including mandatory health checks, proof of hiking experience, accompaniment by licensed guides, and premium insurance coverage.

The safety push comes after a series of accidents this year. On June 21, Brazilian hiker Juliana Marins died after falling from a steep cliff; she was found alive through drone footage but succumbed to her injuries before rescue teams could reach her.

In July, a Swiss tourist identified as BE, 40, was injured while descending from the summit toward Pelawangan. The next day, a Dutch hiker, STVH, fell while on the Plawangan Sembalun route toward Segara Anak Lake, a trail notorious for its difficulty and hazards.

Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, attracts thousands of climbers annually for its panoramic crater lake and challenging treks, but also poses risks due to its rugged terrain and unpredictable weather.

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