Data from the Bengkulu Province Tourism Office recorded that visitors to the 2025 Tabut Festival reached 206,217 people, both domestic and foreign tourists, an increase from 132,898 people the previous year.
"This provides a very positive trend and it also gives us optimism that Bengkulu's tourism performance will continue to improve," Puspa said in her official statement here on Sunday.
Economically, the 2025 Tabut Festival is estimated to generate around IDR 21 billion (around US$1.29 million). That figure reflects direct transactions from the sale of goods and services, including a significant boost for local MSMEs to get involved in the event.
However, the economic impact analysis of the 2024 Tabut Festival still shows much greater potential.
The activities in 2024 recorded production of goods and services of up to IDR 256.1 billion (around US$15.8 million), with a contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching IDR 238.2 billion (around US$14.6 million).
In total, last year's festival generated an economic value of around IDR 13.57 trillion (around US$837.3 million), demonstrating the multiplier effect of tourism on all economic sectors in Bengkulu.
The deputy minister hopes the Bengkulu Provincial Government will continue to explore the potential of its region so as to further encourage tourists, both domestic and foreign, to make Bengkulu their tourist destination.
The deputy minister encouraged an increase in the target of foreign tourist visits from 14.6 million to 16 million and targeted 1.08 billion domestic tourist visits by 2025.
Puspa encourages all parties to continue to be creative and to continue to preserve culture, which will ultimately have a positive impact on improving the economy and welfare of the Bengkulu community.
The deputy minister also emphasized the ministry's commitment to continue to encourage quality cultural-based tourism performances in various regions.
With cultural-based tourism performances, tourist movement is expected to increase, and the economic value in the area can rise.
Meanwhile, Bengkulu Governor Helmi Hasan said that the Tabut Festival used to be just a family activity, then developed into a city activity, then provincial level, and this year the festival is included in the national category as part of the Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2025.
Hasan also has a vision to make the Tabut Festival an international tourist attraction.
"We hope this Tabut Festival will not only be a source of pride for Bengkulu, a national pride, but also a pride that attracts international attention. That way, everyone from all over the world will come to Bengkulu," Hasan said.
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Translator: Abdu Faisal, Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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