Labuan Bajo, July 22, 2026 – The Regional Executive Board of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies of East Nusa Tenggara (DPD ASITA Nusa Tenggara Timur/DPD ASITA NTT) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Provincial Government and regency/municipal governments across East Nusa Tenggara to enhance destination promotion and expand tourism marketing throughout the province.
The commitment was conveyed by Oyan Kristian, Chairman of DPD ASITA East Nusa Tenggara, during the East Nusa Tenggara Tourism Coordination Meeting, which brought together heads of tourism offices from across the province, tourism industry stakeholders, and strategic partners to synchronize tourism development initiatives.
During the meeting, ASITA NTT emphasized its readiness to actively participate in tourism festivals and promotional events organized by local governments as part of a collaborative effort to broaden the visibility of East Nusa Tenggara’s tourism destinations amid ongoing fiscal efficiency measures.
“ASITA NTT believes that tourism promotion is a shared responsibility. We are ready to collaborate with local governments throughout East Nusa Tenggara in supporting regional festivals and tourism events. For us, the priority is not the size of the budget, but how we can work together to create effective promotion that attracts more visitors and generates meaningful economic benefits for local communities,” said Oyan Kristian, Chairman of DPD ASITA East Nusa Tenggara.
According to Oyan, ASITA NTT remains fully committed to working alongside tourism offices throughout the province by contributing its expertise in destination marketing, travel package development, and promotion through its extensive network of travel agencies across Indonesia and international markets.
Reviving Komodo Travel Mart
During the coordination meeting, ASITA NTT also encouraged local governments to jointly revive the Komodo Travel Mart, a business-to-business (B2B) tourism marketplace that connects tourism businesses with domestic and international buyers to promote East Nusa Tenggara’s destinations and travel experiences.
Following its postponement in 2025 and 2026, ASITA NTT hopes the event can return in 2027 through strong collaboration between local governments, tourism stakeholders, and development partners.
“Komodo Travel Mart has proven to be one of the most effective tourism promotion platforms for East Nusa Tenggara. We hope to see its return in 2027 through collaborative efforts. We also propose hosting the event in Sumba, involving all four regencies on the island so that tourism promotion and economic benefits can be distributed more broadly across the region.”
ASITA NTT believes that the return of Komodo Travel Mart will create new business opportunities for travel agencies, hotels, tourism villages, MSMEs, destination managers, and other tourism-related enterprises throughout the province.
Expanding Destination Promotion Through Strategic Partnerships
In addition to supporting tourism events, ASITA NTT continues to develop strategic promotional partnerships with the private sector. One of these initiatives involves collaboration with Archipelago International, whose hotel brands—including Aston, Neo, and Harper—operate in major Indonesian cities as well as East Nusa Tenggara.
Through this partnership, East Nusa Tenggara’s tourism destinations can be promoted in key domestic markets such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali, creating wider exposure without requiring significant promotional budgets.
“Effective destination marketing is not always about investing more resources—it is about building the right partnerships. By collaborating with strategic partners, we can introduce East Nusa Tenggara to potential travelers in major cities and expand our promotional reach in a more sustainable and efficient manner.”
Growing Interest in Sumba
ASITA NTT also noted the increasing interest in Sumba Island as one of Indonesia’s emerging tourism destinations. This growing enthusiasm was reflected during the 2026 ASITA National Working Meeting (Rakernas) in Makassar, where many participants proposed that the next national gathering be hosted in Sumba.
With strong support from local governments, ASITA NTT is optimistic that Komodo Travel Mart can return in 2027, while ASITA’s National Working Meeting could potentially be held in Sumba in 2028, further strengthening the island’s profile in domestic and international tourism markets.
Improving Connectivity and Tourism Human Resources
ASITA NTT also highlighted the importance of improving connectivity between destinations across East Nusa Tenggara to encourage travelers to explore beyond Labuan Bajo.
Among the recommendations presented were the development of a direct high-speed ferry connection between Labuan Bajo and Sumba, strengthened inter-island ferry services in collaboration with PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, and the reopening of the Denpasar–Maumere direct flight to improve accessibility throughout the province.
Beyond transportation infrastructure, ASITA NTT emphasized the importance of enhancing tourism human resources by providing professional training for travel agencies in destination product development, digital tourism marketing, and Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) services, enabling businesses to adapt to evolving travel trends and digital business models.
“The future of tourism in East Nusa Tenggara depends on our ability to collaborate. Governments, tourism businesses, local communities, and industry partners all have important roles to play. By strengthening joint promotion, improving connectivity, investing in human resources, and continuously developing high-quality tourism products, I am confident that East Nusa Tenggara will continue to grow as one of Indonesia’s most competitive and sustainable tourism destinations.” Oyan Kristian concluded.
DPD ASITA NTT remains optimistic that stronger collaboration among government institutions, tourism businesses, local communities, academia, media, and development partners will reinforce East Nusa Tenggara’s position as one of Indonesia’s leading tourism destinations—celebrated for its extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, authentic experiences, and commitment to sustainable tourism development.
Media Contact
Public Relations Division
DPD ASITA Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT)
Mobile : +62 813-9235-3568
Email : dpd@asitantt.org, admin@asitantt.org
Location: Gorontalo Village, Komodo Sub Regency, West Manggarai Regency, Labuan Bajo, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
