RRI.CO.ID, Mamuju - The Laskar Mamuju Cultural Festival in Sumare Village, Simboro Subdistrict, took center stage in West Sulawesi on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, highlighting the power of community-led events to jumpstart local tourism and safeguard endemic biodiversity.

Organized through a joint effort between coastal residents and student volunteers from Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Community Service Program (KKN PPM UGM), the festival transformed the village into a vibrant hub of traditional music, dance, and local culinary showcases.

Beyond cultural celebrations, the event served as an action platform for environmental conservation, formally adopting recommendations to protect the Maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleo), an endangered species endemic to the Mamuju landscape.

The success of the festival underscores a growing regional movement in West Sulawesi that integrates traditional arts, micro-enterprise promotion, and active habitat conservation into a cohesive model for sustainable eco-tourism.

Regional tourism executives and traditional leaders emphasized that empowering rural youth and local communities is key to establishing resilient, long-term tourism destinations. Head of the West Sulawesi Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Creative Economy Agency, Bau Akram Dai, highlighted the strategic role of youth-driven cultural initiatives.

"This festival proves that synergy between the administration, the community, and the younger generation can deliver true innovation in building culture-based tourist destinations," Bau Akram Dai said in Mamuju on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

"Students and local youths are not merely participants; they are driving innovation, promoting local culture, and empowering the community. Sumare possesses immense tourism potential, and when managed collaboratively, it will create business opportunities and elevate public welfare," he added.

Bau Akram, who also holds the traditional title of King of Mamuju, reinforced the necessity of embedding environmental protection into regional tourism strategies.

"Tourism development must walk hand in hand with commitments to preserve our local environment and rich biodiversity, conservation efforts can run parallel with developing educational, sustainable eco-tourism that generates tangible economic value for surrounding communities," Bau Akram added. ***