A Day of Ideas, Passion, and Collaboration in Floratama (Plus) Destination Leadership Program (FDLP) 2025

Floratama (Plus) Destination Leadership Program (FDLP) is one of BPOLBF’s flagship initiatives designed to strengthen leadership in tourism destination development across Flores, Alor, Lembata, and Bima. The purpose is simple yet powerful: equip local actors—communities, government, creative industries, and tourism practitioners—with the mindset and skills to lead change in their own destinations.

The benefits? Plenty. FDLP encourages collaboration, sharpens leadership capacity, and sparks innovative ideas that can be turned into real impact on the ground. In short, it’s about building the future of our destinations, not just for tourists, but also for the communities who call these places home.

And on August 27, 2025, I had the privilege of being part of one of its most exciting sessions: Project Plan Pitching.

This wasn’t just another online meeting—it was an energetic Zoom room where passionate tourism practitioners pitched their ideas, defended their visions, and embraced feedback with an open heart. As a facilitator, my role was to guide the flow of pitching and discussion, but the truth is, I ended up learning and being inspired just as much as the participants themselves.

Each group had only 10 minutes to present, but within those precious minutes, they poured out passion, research, and hope for their communities. Here’s what we heard:

Pokdarwis (Kelompok Sadar Wisata)

Their focus was clear: “Enhancing Tourism Destination Leadership through Human Resource & Infrastructure Development.” It was a reminder that no matter how beautiful a destination is, its people and facilities are the real backbone. When locals grow, the destination thrives.

Dinas Pariwisata Nagekeo

They took us deeper into tradition with a presentation on “The Symbolic Meaning of the Tooth Filing Ritual in the Boawae Community”. It was more than just ritual—it was a story of identity, resilience, and cultural pride. A living heritage that, if narrated well, can attract visitors while staying true to its sacred meaning.

Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Manggarai Timur

Through “Padang Mausui: A Collaboration of Nature, Tradition, and Culture,” they painted a vivid picture of how landscapes and cultural values intersect. Their idea positioned Padang Mausui not just as a physical destination, but as a meeting point between generations, traditions, and nature.

Ekraf NTT

The session wrapped with youthful energy through “Ende Creative Culture (EC2)”. Their focus? Building destinations through culture, community, and the youth generation. It was vibrant, refreshing, and exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach tourism needs to stay alive and relevant.

To make the session even more meaningful, two brilliant coaches—

• Dr. Phil., Ir. Rino Wicaksono, ST, MAUD, MURP, IPU, ASEAN Eng., IAP (Lecturer in the Architecture Study Program and the Urban and Regional Planning Study Program, Indonesian Institute of Technology)
• Dr. Amelda Pramezwary A. Par., M.M., CHE (Head of the Hospitality Management Study Program, Pelita Harapan University)

—gave sharp yet encouraging feedback. They pushed participants to think more critically while celebrating the creativity and leadership they had already shown.

For me, this session was more than just pitches and PowerPoints. It was about witnessing the future of Flores and NTT tourism being imagined, crafted, and owned by the very people who live it every day.

And that’s the magic of FDLP—creating a safe space where ideas meet collaboration, and where local leaders step forward with courage and vision.

At the end of the day, I logged off Zoom with a big smile. Not because everything was flawless (pitching rarely is!)—but because the energy was real, the passion was undeniable, and the sense of shared purpose was strong.

Here’s to these emerging leaders of Floratama destinations—the journey is just getting started, and I’m excited to see where it takes us.

—
Engel Vione
IT Support Specialist & Public Communication Officer
Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority