KBRN, West Manggarai: Labuan Bajo Waterfront Festival (LBWF) 2024 officially opened over the weekend and will run until November 30. Meruorah Labuan Bajo Hotel organized the festival with the support of the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority (BPOLBF).

Culture Fun Walk, covering a route from Puncak Waringin to Meruorah Labuan Bajo Promenade, marked the opening of the festival.

Various interesting activities have been scheduled for the festival including a cooking competition to explore creativities in local culinary and a fashion contest showcasing the beauty of local culture-based clothing.

Other attractive activities include a singing competition and Latte Art Competition, a coffee decorating art competition, that illustrates creative economy innovations.

People who want to participate can register through the Meruorah Labuan Bajo Instagram account or BPOLBF.

The theme of this year's festival is “Discover the Allure of Flores”, aiming to introduce the natural beauty, culture, culinary, and tourism potential in West Manggarai and Flores.

Visitors are invited to explore local richness while strengthening the position of Labuan Bajo and Flores as world-class tourist destinations.

Hamonangan Sirait, Acting Executive Assistant Manager of Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo said that Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo is hosting a festival to show the Labuan Bajo's beauty, hospitality, and culinary specialties.

The festival aims to attract local and foreign tourists, be covered by international media, and increase the city's reputation as a premium destination.

LBWF involves various parties, including artist communities. Ondy Christian Siagian, Acting Regent of West Manggarai, emphasized the importance of art and creativity in supporting tourism development.

“Tourism and art have a close relationship. We hope that artists are given more spaces to work, so that tourism promotion can be done through art and creativity,” said Ondy.

According to West Manggarai Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture Agency Head Stefan Jemsifori, the event is expected to become an annual tradition that provides a new atmosphere for domestic and foreign tourists.

Supports from stakeholders, creative actors, and MSMEs, will help this festival run successfully and have a positive impact on tourism.

The cooperation between Meruorah Hotel, BPOLBF, local government, artist communities, and MSME players is the key to the success of LBWF 2024.

The festival not only celebrates the charm of Labuan Bajo but also becomes a momentum to promote West Manggarai as a leading tourist destination in Indonesia and the world.