Building Komodo Travel Mart 2024’s Digital Portal

When I first heard that Lingkotech would be entrusted to build the official website for Komodo Travel Mart 2024, my reaction was a mix of excitement and butterflies in my stomach. This wasn’t just another project—this was the annual tourism trade event in Labuan Bajo, bringing together buyers and sellers from across the world. And we were about to create the digital face of it.

As a kid from Flores, standing at the intersection of technology and tourism, this felt like one of those full-circle moments.

From Whiteboard Scribbles to Website Blueprint

The first challenge was figuring out how the website should serve its many audiences. On one side, buyers—travel agencies, MICE organizers, and tour operators looking to connect with NTT’s tourism players. On the other, sellers—local businesses, UMKM, boat operators, hoteliers, and artisans eager to showcase their services.

We quickly realized: this site couldn’t just be a pretty brochure. It had to be a working portal with registration features, information hubs, and a layout that made navigation as easy as booking a trip to Komodo.

So the team and I started sketching. Pages multiplied, and menus shuffled. We asked ourselves:

• How do we make the registration flow intuitive?
• How do we highlight Labuan Bajo’s identity and the spirit of sustainable tourism?
• And most importantly—how do we make the site load fast enough even on a slow Flores connection?

Designing for Labuan Bajo’s Global Stage

Komodo Travel Mart isn’t just about business deals—it’s about branding NTT as a world-class tourism destination. So the website had to reflect that energy.

We went for a clean and modern design, mixing earthy colors inspired by Flores landscapes with sleek layouts that feel professional yet warm. Every button, every banner, every photo placement was chosen to make visitors feel, “Yes, I want to be part of this event.”

Also the site should be responsive, lightweight, and mobile-friendly—because we knew many users would access it via their phones while traveling.

The Magic of Buyer & Seller Registration

Now, the heart of the portal: the buyer and seller registration system.

This is the fun (and somewhat labor-intensive) part. We’ve built a flow that allows sellers (local businesses) and buyers (domestic and international agents in NTT) to register their companies using a comprehensive and informative form. Applicants will receive an email confirming “registration successful” and a PDF file of the registration attached.

When the first test registration came in successfully. It felt like the site had just taken its first breath.

Collaboration, Deadlines, and a Few Late Nights

Of course, no project this big comes without its challenges. There were nights of debugging forms, calls with the organizing committee at odd hours, and last-minute requests (“Can we add this new section tomorrow?”). But honestly, that’s part of the fun.

What kept us going was the bigger picture: this wasn’t just about code, but about supporting local tourism. Every seller who registers through the site represents a piece of Flores’ economy and culture. Every buyer who logs in represents a door opening for NTT to the world.

Launch Day Feels

When the site finally went live at komodotravelmart.co.id, I couldn’t stop refreshing the homepage. Seeing real businesses sign up, reading messages from international buyers, and watching the portal come alive—it felt surreal.

For me, as the founder of Lingkotech, this project wasn’t just a milestone for our team—it was a statement: Flores can build world-class tech solutions rooted in local identity.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Developing the Komodo Travel Mart portal taught me one big thing: technology can be both a bridge and a stage. A bridge connecting Labuan Bajo’s local businesses with global partners. And a stage to showcase our culture, creativity, and readiness to play in the big leagues of tourism.

And if you ask me what’s next—I’d say this is only the beginning. Lingkotech is here to keep building those bridges, one website (and one fried banana-fueled coding session) at a time.

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Engel Vione
Founder, Lingkotech