Indonesian Bishop Advocates for Tourism that Heals, Not Exploits

Opening the 2025 Festival Golo Koe, Bishop Maksimus Regus urged that tourism in Labuan Bajo must heal rather than exploit, fostering fraternity, unity, and care for creation over profit-driven greed. 

The month-long celebration, themed “Weaving National Unity and Sustainable Tourism that is Synodal and Inclusive,” began on July 9 with a pilgrimage of Our Lady of the Assumption of the Archipelago and will culminate in mid-August, coinciding with Indonesia’s Independence Month.

The festival, held in Manggarai Barat on Flores Island, is among eastern Indonesia’s most significant annual cultural and religious events. The theme resonates deeply in Labuan Bajo, a fast-growing tourist destination celebrated worldwide for its pristine islands, vibrant marine life, and the UNESCO-listed Komodo National Park.

“Labuan Bajo is an image of boundless beauty, a lasting gift from God, a piece of His handiwork,” Bishop Regus told participants. He underscored the importance of tourism rooted in ecological care, community well-being, and long-term sustainability, warning that the pursuit of unlimited profit could reduce the region’s natural wonders to mere commodities, bringing little benefit to local communities.

Since its inception four years ago, the Festival Golo Koe has promoted a multi-dimensional approach to tourism, integrating religious, cultural, economic, and interfaith perspectives. 

Bishop Regus described it as a “counter-narrative to the exploitative tendencies of tourism” and a model for collaboration between government authorities, the Church, and civil society.

The bishop expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, the local government of Manggarai Barat, port authorities, police and military personnel, clergy, small business owners, and all who contributed to making the festival possible. “May this festival be a sign that tourism in Labuan Bajo can grow in sustainability, synodality, and inclusivity,” he said.

Located at the western tip of Flores Island, Labuan Bajo has become one of Indonesia’s premier travel destinations, attracting visitors from across the globe for its spectacular sunsets, diverse marine ecosystems, and unique Komodo dragons. 

As the Church joins efforts to safeguard creation, the Festival Golo Koe serves as a reminder that beauty is a gift entrusted to all, a treasure to be protected and passed on to future generations.