“We urge visitors or tourists heading to Labuan Bajo to make sure they rely on trusted and reliable sources of information so they won’t be disappointed,” said Frans Teguh, the Minister’s Expert Staff for Sustainable Development and Conservation, in Labuan Bajo on Saturday.
Frans made the statement in response to a recent scam involving a foreign tourist and a driver in Labuan Bajo on Sunday (July 20).
He explained that travelers can obtain reliable information from local government agencies and tourism authorities.
“They can also ask for recommendations from trusted agents, tour operators, or partners that can help facilitate travel in Labuan Bajo,” said Frans, who previously served as Acting President Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF).
He emphasized that tourism is a business built on trust, and that trust relies on comprehensive information delivered through credible media and reliable sources.
“Before engaging in any tourism activities, travelers should equip themselves with up-to-date and trustworthy information,” he added.
Frans acknowledged that negative perceptions about Labuan Bajo's safety could stem from isolated incidents and a lack of accurate information.
“There’s a perception or sentiment that Labuan Bajo isn’t safe. But often, this stems from tourists not being thorough in gathering complete and accurate information about travel activities—especially when it comes to transactions, payments, or costs,” he explained.
He also warned about the risks of misinformation in today’s post-truth era, where falsehoods flood public spaces, shaping perceptions while factual reports are drowned out and ignored.
Tourists, he stressed, must not only seek information but also verify it to ensure accuracy.
“We hope that both the safety and comfort of visitors, as well as our shared responsibility in managing tourism, are prioritized. At the same time, we must ensure that the information presented to tourists is credible—so they can make informed decisions when traveling in Labuan Bajo,” Frans said.
Earlier, Manggarai Barat Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit Chief AKP Lufthi Darmawan Aditya said that a recent alleged fraud case involving a British tourist named Matthew (35) was resolved amicably on Wednesday (July 23).
The case was dropped after the suspected perpetrators offered a public apology and the victim chose not to pursue legal action.
“We facilitated a meeting between the victim and the suspects. The victim decided not to press charges after receiving their apology,” Lufthi said.
The suspects, identified by their initials TS (29) and YP (29), are Labuan Bajo residents employed as inter-district drivers.
“They were not official tour guides, but rather travel drivers operating between districts,” he clarified.
Lufthi expressed hope that the incident serves as a lesson for all stakeholders.
“Labuan Bajo is a super-priority tourism destination. It’s essential that we all work together to maintain its security and the comfort of its visitors,” he said.
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Translator: Gecio, Azis Kurmala
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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