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.
More than 30,000 flocked to Cross Border Atambua Festival 2017 music concert
Change Size
A gate welcoming visitors to Atambua, which borders directly with Timor Leste. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
M
ore than 30,000 people flocked to Simpang Lima field in Belu regency, Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Aug. 28 where the Cross Border Atambua Festival 2017 was held.
The event, which featured local rock bands Cokelat and Jamrud as the main performers, kicked off with a performance of Tebe Dance from state high school SMAN 3 Atambua Dance Club.
Tebe is a traditional dance from Belu that expresses excitement over a victory. The dance features a female and male dancers, holding hands while singing praises to each other.
After the dance performance, the festival hosted opening acts from two local bands of Atambua
When the clock hits 9 p.m., Cokelat finally performed on stage singing a total of 12 songs, including “Pergi” (Leave),“Luka Lama” (Old Wound), “Karma” and “Bendera” (The Flag).
Read also: 5 must-visit destinations in Surabaya
“Thank you so much, we are happy that we get to come to NTT. Atambua has a beautiful nature that is perfect for tourism, let’s preserve it together,” said one of the band members, Jackline, from the stage.
The night continued with the performance from Jamrud who sang a total of 16 songs.
“Thank you to the Tourism Ministry; we believe that Indonesian tourism will continue to grow, especially around the crossborder area. To friends from Timor Leste, thank you so much for coming,” said the band’s vocalist, Krisyanto.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that these kinds of festival usually attract more than 25,000 visitors.
“Business people should be thinking of building accommodation such as hotels and resorts, as well as tourist attractions such as theme park and art performances. The goal is to make tourists stay longer,” said Arief. (kes)
