The Indonesian Embassy in Lisbon is now actively introducing Labuan Bajo, a tourist destination in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, to Portuguese travelers.
Labuan Bajo was selected as the host for a familiarization trip showcasing natural tourism using traditional Pinisi boats, organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Portugal. The event, held from December 6-8, 2024, was attended by Portuguese tour operators and bloggers, as well as embassy representatives. They explored the Komodo National Park and surrounding areas.
This program is a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy in Lisbon and the Portugal Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), to promote tourism in Labuan Bajo. The embassy introduced the natural beauty of Labuan Bajo during the trip.
Using the Soe Besar Vanrei Pinisi boat, the group visited various natural tourist spots in the Komodo National Park and surrounding areas. Over three days, they explored the natural beauty of 11 destinations in an ‘island hopping’ trip around the park.
They visited Komodo Island, home to the world-famous Komodo dragons. They also trekked to the summit of Padar Island, which offers stunning views of nature. They also visited Pink Beach, a famous beach with pinky sand.
The embassy also took the tour operators and bloggers to several diving and snorkeling spots. They visited Sebayur, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Penga, Strawberry Rocks, Manjarite, and Kelor. They also enjoyed a sunset at Kalong Island while witnessing thousands of bats flying around.
In addition to enjoying the natural scenery, they were introduced to the uniqueness of the local culture, a variety of Indonesian cuisine and the appeal of sustainable tourism. The latter is a hallmark of Labuan Bajo, as a super-priority tourism destination set by the Indonesian government.
A member of the Portugal Bilateral Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hasyifawaty Warganegara, explained that the activity was a continuation of their visit to the Indonesian Embassy in Lisbon in February. It is part of a synergy between the chamber and the embassy to promote Labuan Bajo to Portuguese tourists.
According to detik.com on Sunday (8/12), she hopes this program will open up great opportunities for Portuguese tourists to consider Labuan Bajo a preferred destination. Hasyifawaty also hopes that Labuan Bajo will welcome more Portuguese tourists next year.