Situated in Indonesia, Labuan Bajo is a very unobtrusive location in the extensive tourism landscape of the country. Labuan Bajo is known for absolutely stunning natural beauty, which is very risky due to constantly changing weather conditions that make the weather information a very important resource for local and international tourists. The Indonesian government has solicited proactive measures in regard to taking measures regarding the tourists who visit this unique destination by developing a special weather forecast app.
This is an ambitious initiative by Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. The application, scheduled to be launched in the last quarter of 2024, will provide basic weather forecasts, and more than that, also information about potential impacts and necessary precautions one should take as a tourist.
Compared to the existing BMKG Info, it would be the same, but because this is like a pilot project, the design is specifically made for Labuan Bajo,” BMKG’s head, Dwikorita Karnawati, explained during an interview at the Sapta Pesona building in Jakarta on Monday, August 19, 2024. “We’re targeting November or December 2024 for its launch.”.
Of critical note, the timing of the release of the app is aligned with the phenomena associated with La Niña, which brings heavier rainfalls to the region. General weather updates would be available for all tourist spots within Indonesia; however, this new app would go a step further to give details concerning the potential impacts of such weather and guidance on how it could be handled mainly in Labuan Bajo.
“Knowing merely the temperature or whether it is going to rain is not good enough,” stressed Dwikorita. “This app will inform the tourist about the possible impacts of the weather conditions, what actions they should take, and how to respond to these situations. This information is very important to be given to visitors to ensure their safety and well-being.”
She hastened, however, to add that these detailed forecasts of impact are not meant to alarm tourists but to let them make their decisions more efficiently and plan their trips accordingly. This was so especially for those engaging in outdoor activities like hiking in the conditions of Labuan Bajo, which at times become very unpredictable.
“It’s about more than saying that it’s going to rain,” she said. “They need to know how the weather is going to affect them, whether to wear warm clothes, or if they will have to prepare for high temperatures. Recommendations are of vital importance to their comfort and safety.”
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This would be an innovative weather app, forecasted to be of significance not only to domestic tourists but also to a large number of international tourists who come to Labuan Bajo.
According to Frans Teguh, advisor to the Sustainable Development and Conservation of Kemenparekraf and Acting President Director of Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority, the need for this initiative is pressing. He added that Labuan Bajo is identified as a high-risk travel area since its weather is very sensitive, so with this application, it will be very useful for tourists.
“Labuan Bajo is indeed a high-risk destination, especially in terms of weather. This probably elbows out detailed, accurate weather information to a first-instrumental position,” said Frans at the Sapta Pesona building, during the Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno, Monday, August 19, 2024.
Frans believes that the benefits of tourist safety and security from localized and detailed data regarding the weather and its impacts will be immense, thus contributing to a much more enjoyable experience for visitors to Labuan Bajo.
The new weather forecast app, according to the government, will make Labuan Bajo not just a place to visit but also much safer and more comfortable for everybody.
