Why is Data the Key to the Future of West Manggarai Tourism?

On February 26, 2026, Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (LBFTA) conducted an official visit to the Statistics Office (BPS) of West Manggarai Regency. What may seem like a routine institutional meeting was, in reality, a strategic discussion about something fundamental: West Manggarai tourism data.

As Labuan Bajo continues to grow as a priority tourism destination, one important question arises:
Do we have sufficient and relevant data to support smarter decisions in the tourism industry?

Moving Beyond Visitor Numbers

Tourism conversations often revolve around total arrivals. However, for industry players and policymakers, the more meaningful indicators go deeper:

• How long do tourists stay? (Length of Stay / LOS)

• How much do they spend? (Tourist Spending)

• Where do they come from?

• What are their preferences and travel characteristics?

This is where insight of West Manggarai tourism data becomes essential — data that does not merely describe volume but explains behavior and market trends.

During the meeting, Acting President Director of LBFTA, Andhy MT Marpaung, emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic collaboration in tourism data management.

“Accurate and relevant tourism data is the foundation for sound policy-making and destination development strategies. We encourage stronger institutional collaboration in managing and utilizing tourism data.”

His statement reflects a growing awareness that tourism governance must increasingly rely on evidence-based analysis rather than assumptions.

The Challenge: National Surveys vs Destination-Specific Needs

Head of BPS West Manggarai Regency, Ikhe Suryaningrum, S.Pi., MAB, explained that national surveys such as the Passenger Exit Survey (PES) are designed at a national scale, which makes it difficult to capture highly specific indicators for a single destination like Labuan Bajo.

“To obtain destination-specific indicators such as Length of Stay and Spending for Labuan Bajo, a dedicated survey design would be required. BPS is open to providing technical assistance, including survey training, data processing, and analysis.”

This highlights a key structural issue: while national data provides macro insights, destinations require more localized data to drive targeted industry strategies.

BPS also introduced the potential use of Mobile Positioning Data (MPD) to analyze tourist mobility patterns — an increasingly relevant tool in modern tourism analytics.

Tourism Data for Tourism and Creative Economy Business Actors

Perhaps the most critical takeaway from the discussion is how tourism data for tourism and creative economy business actors can directly influence business performance.

Imagine if hotel operators knew that average length of stay was increasing — they could design extended-stay packages.

If restaurant owners understood that certain markets spend more on local gastronomy, they could develop premium local dining experiences.

If tour operators had reliable country-of-origin trends, they could refine digital marketing campaigns in specific languages and cultural contexts.

Without data, businesses operate on intuition. With data, they operate with strategy.

The Way Forward

As a follow-up, BPOLBF plans to formally request more specific tourism profile data through BPS of East Nusa Tenggara and national levels. The goal is to strengthen collaboration and build a more structured tourism data ecosystem tailored to industry needs.

Ultimately, the future of Labuan Bajo is not defined solely by marketing campaigns or infrastructure development. It depends on how well we understand the market through reliable and actionable data.

Because sustainable growth begins with knowledge — and knowledge begins with data.

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Engel Vione
IT Support Specialist & Public Communication Officer
Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority
Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia