The island is part of Komodo National Park, a conservation area between the eastern islands of Sumbawa and Flores visited by more than 176,000 tourists from all over the world in 2018.

As well as beautiful beaches and scenery, many visitors came to see the dragons, only found in the wild in eastern Indonesia.

"We have to save Komodo dragons from extinction, that's the point," Josef Nae Soi, deputy governor of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, said.

Even after the closure of the island - where about 1,700 of the animals are estimated to live - others in the national park that are home to Komodo dragons, such Rinca and Padar, will stay open.

Closing the island to tourists aims to avert interference and cut the risk of poaching to allow a recovery in the numbers of the Komodo dragons' preferred prey such as deer, buffalo and wild boar.

"People come wanting to see ... how (the dragons) mate, how they lay their eggs, how they hatch, and how the young Komodos fight for their life," Soi said.

Komodo island could reopen after 12 months, but was planned to become a premium tourist destination, Soi said.

Media had previously suggested the province planned to charge tourists an entrance fee of $US500, but Soi said no fee had been decided.

Plans to limit visitors have sparked controversy in the island's tourism industry as well as among residents who depend on visitors for their livelihood.

Soi acknowledged resistance but said President Joko Widodo approved the plan and authorities were holding talks on how best to relocate residents.

"We want Komodo island to be intended for conservation," Widodo was quoted as saying after a visit to Rinca last week.

Australian Associated Press