The provincial government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is targeting around 1 million tourist arrivals in 2023. Key to attracting them will be the region’s upcoming schedule of various cultural and religious events, such as the Bale Nagi Festival in East Flores Regency, part of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and its nationwide events programme, Kharisma Event Nusantara 2023.
From 11-15 April, the Bale Nagi Festival will be held in East Flores Regency. The festival has been timed to coincide with Easter celebrations and follows Seman Santa; a local religious ritual with a global reputation, and one that never fails to draw visitors from far and wide. Held back-to-back, the two celebrations will showcase some of the best natural, cultural and culinary delights on offer in Flores and NTT.
“The implementation of these two events will also encourage tourists to stay longer,” explained Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Office of NTT Province, Zet Sony Libing, in a recent statement. “The Bale Nagi Festival will be an event to increase tourist visits because it will continue the momentum after the Semana Santa religious event, which is well known to the global community,” he added.
He went on to confirm that the decision to hold Bale Nagi Festival at this time was one of several government strategies designed to ramp up tourist visits to NTT. In the coming months, more festival events will be spread out across various other islands in the region, including Timor, Flores, Sumba, Alor, Sabu, and others.
“NTT has extraordinary natural, cultural, culinary and other wealth, so it remains an attraction that makes tourists feel at home visiting,” said the region’s Head of Tourism and Creative Economy. From April onwards, around a million visitors are expected to experience these tourism wonders first-hand.
