Tomohon Flower Festival Parade, Hidden Gem That Can Attract Foreign Tourists

The Tomohon Flower Festival is believed to be attractive to bring in foreign tourists. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - Tomohon International Flower Festival 2023 or known as the Tomohon Flower Festival is one of Indonesia's hidden gems that holds many tourism potentials to attract foreign tourists.

This activity was opened Friday, August 11, and held at the Tomohon City Alfa Omega Tower. The chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, also attended the highlight of the event which was held today, Saturday, August 12.

Arriving at the Tomohon Flower Festival, Puan was greeted by a parade of children carrying flowers and flags of countries around the world as the initial series of events.

When opening the Tomohon International Flower Festival 2023 parade, Puan was accompanied by the Governor of South Sulawesi Olly Dondokambey and the Mayor of Tomohon Caroll Senduk. This event was attended by a number of Ambassadors and representatives of friendly countries.

Puan seemed to hit Tambo's musical instrument symbolically as a sign of the start of the Parade with North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey and ambassador representatives.

"By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I declare that the Tomohon International Flower Festival parade is officially starting," said Puan when opening the Tomohon Flower Festival parade.

The city of Tomohon is located in a mountainous area with fertile soil and cool weather, prompting local people to grow various types of flowers and vegetables. Therefore, Tomohon, who is a distance of ~25 km from Manado, is known as a flower-producing city.

Puan said that Indonesia's natural beauty has long been admired by the world, but most people in the world or foreign tourists are only limited to knowing the location of tourist destinations that have extraordinary potential beauty such as Tomohon.

"The city of Tomohon is one of Indonesia's hidden gems whose tourism potential is still very large to be known by more and more foreign and domestic tourists," he said.

"So that Tomohon is increasingly known as the goal of Indonesian tourism and the world, it is very necessary to hold big events such as the Tomohon International Flower Festival which can attract foreign and domestic tourist arrivals," added Puan.

The peak of the Tomohon Flower Festival is the contested parade of ornamental vehicles. The ornamental vehicle is designed according to the characteristics of the participants.

In addition to presenting the beauty of flowers in the parade packaging of ornamental vehicles, the Tomohon International Flower Festival also presents flower costume carnivals, florkultura exhibitions, and various other supporting events. Puan assessed that the festival, which has been held for 11 times, has strong enough value to display the face of Indonesian tourism.

"The Tomohon Flower Festival is not just a flower exhibition. This festival is a reflection of Indonesia's diversity, beauty, and natural wealth," explained the first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

Puan was also amazed by the beauty of clothing exhibited at the flower costume carnival at this festival. The flower costume was also contested in the general and school level categories.

"The Tomohon, known as Kota Bunga, must continue to improve itself in revitalizing tourism potential and welcoming foreign and domestic tourists," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture said, Tomohon has a very good nature to explore. For this reason, Puan encourages the Government to strengthen the tourism ecosystem of Tomohon City such as tourism facilities and support them in areas rich in water sources because they are located at the foot of Mount Lokon, Mount Mahaw and Mount Tamposo.

"Especially the natural beauty of Tomohon City, which is the main attraction of tourism, must be maintained and preserved. Don't let it be damaged. We must be able to protect the nature that we enjoy the beauty of," said Bung Karno's grandson.

According to Puan, one of the efforts to maximize the potential of regional participants is to maintain and care for them. Because the advantage of tourist destinations must combine natural beauty with the main facilities of tourism and its supporters, as well as the best hospitality for tourists who come.

"When tourists come to Tomohon City and they are happy, they are comfortable, then they will come back again, lag, again, and again and will bring more families and friends to come here," said Puan.

Moreover, the tourism potential in Tomohon is also expected to revive the people's economy. Puan reminded that the role of local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must be maximized so that the positive impact of tourism potential in this area is really felt by the Tomohon community.

"The increase in tourism in Tomohon City must lead to an increase in the welfare of MSMEs and all the people of Tomohon City," he said.

Puan hopes that the natural potential that has an impact on the people's economy will be supported by the ease of transportation to Tomohon. He also encouraged the local government to support interest farmers so that the productivity of their visitors will increase.

"Because I asked to meet domestic needs alone, it was not enough. Moreover, we want to export. So the regional head of Tomohon North Sulawesi must increase the productivity of the number of flowers produced by farmers," closed Puan.