Community Participation the Main Strength of the 2026 Golo Koe Festival

RRI.CO.ID, Labuan Bajo - Indonesia's Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, emphasized that the active participation of the local community is the primary force ensuring the sustainability of the "Golo Koe Festival 2026" as a culture- and religion-based tourism event.

While opening the Golo Koe Festival 2026 at the Waterfront City area in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday, August 10, 2026, Minister Widiyanti stated that the festival serves as a celebration uniting faith, tradition, and the life of the Manggarai people in a space open to everyone.

"This is where I see the strength of the Golo Koe Festival. Tourists come to experience Labuan Bajo more fully, while the community remains the key player in determining how their identity is introduced to the world," the Minister said.

This also demonstrates that tourism is not always built upon grand attractions, but can also rest on spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian values that originate from within the community. The festival has once again been included in the Top 10 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN), reaffirming its position as one of Indonesia's premier tourism events.

Carrying the theme "Maria Assumpta Nusantara," the Golo Koe Festival combines religious processions, cultural attractions, MSME exhibitions, and various local art performances into a single celebration that reflects both the richness of tradition and the community's spirit of togetherness.

High enthusiasm was evident from the very first day, with hundreds of locals, as well as domestic and international tourists, packing the event venue. The festival's success is also reflected in the economic impact it generates. In 2025, the Golo Koe Festival recorded over 45,000 tourist visits. The event involved 173 MSMEs and 883 artists, created 1,473 job opportunities, and generated an economic turnover of IDR 2.82 billion.

This year, the Golo Koe Festival targets 50,000 visitors, with an expected economic turnover surpassing the previous year's figures. Occupancy rates for hotels and homestays in Labuan Bajo are also projected to rise significantly during the festival, driven by the influx of tourists.