TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Minahasa seeks to attract more tourists with Lake Tondano Festival
Change Size
A lake in North Sulawesi. (Shutterstock/File)
Minahasa regency is slated to host Lake Tondano Festival (Fesdaton) from Oct. 27 until Nov. 7 at Moraya Castle.
Minahasa Culture and Tourism Agency head Agustifo Tumundo said the festival, that is supported by the Tourism Ministry in partnership with Kakigatal Production, will kick off with a Fun Walk activity starting from the God Bless Minahasa Park and then continue around the city of Tondano and will end at Tondano Moraya Castle.
At the castle, the activity will continue with Zumba dance, Poco-Poco dance, Maumere dance and Ikan Mujair Woku Belanga cooking competition.
The festival aims to break a MURI record for the longest and highest number of events.
“These activities involve all villages and urban communities. Fried mujair cooking competition will have employees of regional administrations, vertical institutions, BUMN, BUMD and districts to participate. For Ikan Nike cooking competition, it will be joined by school teachers from all over Minahasa,” said Agustifo.
Read also: Village in South Tangerang seeks English tutors
“Participants of Ikan Mujair Woku Belanga Cooking Competition will compete to win the Minahasa Regent Perpetual Trophy, winner’s trophy and other prizes,” he added.
Throughout the competitions, visitors will be entertained by performances from Komedi Nasional Mongol Stres, Isti Julistry and Gio Idol.
“The event seeks to attract at least 10,000 visitors. It serves as a promotional tool to introduce Minahasa and other tourist destinations in North Sulawesi. It also aims to achieve this year’s provincial target for the number of tourists, which are 110,000 foreign and 1,500,000 domestic tourists,” said the ministry's archipelago tourism marketing development deputy, Esthy Reko Astuti.
Esthy moreover said that Lake Tondano is one of the 88 National Tourism Strategic Areas (KSPN) and one of the seven lakes that are currently being rehabilitated by the Public Works and Housing Ministry.
“This restoration is being done so that tourism development will be in line with infrastructure development. This in the end will attract tourists and investors. This event will also strengthen the 3As [Attraction, Accessibility and Accomodation] of tourism," Esthy added.
From Oct. 28 to Nov. 6 the region will also host Minahasa Expo 2017 and sport competitions, followed by the election of Waraney and Wulan Minahasa 2017 on Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.
Moreover, the Minahasan food competition will be divided into three categories: Halal, non-halal and extreme culinary. The competition is scheduled to be held at Moraya Castle together with a talent show on the stage of the Minahasa Expo and grand finale event at Wale Ne Tou Sasaran.
For the closing event, the festival has prepared some activities as well, such as Tondano Choir Lake Festival, a cultural party, and the release of 1000 lanterns and 500 obor kasih (torches). (kes)
