Buleleng should be proud! The reason is that two flagship festivals of Buleleng Regency, namely the Pemuteran Bay Festival and the Lovina Festival, have been officially included in the 2025 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) announced by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenkraf RI). This is an extraordinary achievement for the Buleleng tourism sector which continues to grow after the pandemic.
For information, KEN is an annual program initiated by Kemenkraf RI since 2021. This program aims to promote Indonesian tourism destinations through various cultural, artistic, carnival and culinary events.
The Head of the Buleleng Regency Tourism Office, Gede Dody Sukma Oktiva Askara, expressed his gratitude for this achievement. “Since 2023 and 2024, we have continued to hold the Lovina Festival and proposed that this festival be included in the Nusantara Event Charisma for the first time. Finally, the Lovina Festival for the first time participated in this program following the Pemuteran Bay Festival which routinely follows it,” he said when confirmed, Friday (28/2).
Kadis Dody explained that Pemuteran Bay Festival will usually be held in November, while Lovina Festival is planned to take place on July 16-24, 2025. This success strengthens Buleleng's position as a tourism destination that offers rich culture and unique natural charm.
To strengthen the appeal of the festival, Dispar Buleleng will collaborate with other regions such as Banyuwangi, West Lombok and Ponorogo. The plan is that there will be MSME promotion stands and cultural arts performances from these regions, including typical arts such as the Banyuwangi Gandrung Dance and Reog Ponorogo.
“We want to create a festival that not only showcases Buleleng culture, but also presents performances from other regions to make it more attractive to tourists,” added the former Buleleng sub-district head.
He further emphasized that through this festival the target of tourist visits can be met. Where for Buleleng Regency
itself targets 1.7 million tourist visits in 2025, with details of 700,000 foreign tourists and 1 million domestic tourists.
Asked about funding, Kadis Dody emphasized that funding will use more funds from donors, CSR and sponsorship amid budget efficiency. Of course, this year's festival will not reduce the quality of the previous festival.
In addition, Dispar Buleleng is working on the concept of the show, including a typical Buleleng mass dance that will be featured in the opening of the event. “Later, the planning agenda and exposure to regional leaders will be carried out in early March 2025 to ensure the festival runs smoothly,” he concluded.
The inclusion of two Buleleng festivals in KEN 2025 is an important momentum for regional tourism promotion. With the support of various parties, Pemuteran Bay Festival and Lovina Festival are expected to be increasingly recognized and become the main attraction for tourists who want to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of Buleleng culture.
Indonesia