Alor Kecil cold-seawater event becomes festival draw in Alor regency

Labuan Bajo — The cold-seawater phenomenon in Alor Kecil, Alor regency, was promoted as a tourism draw during Festival Aladin 2026, which ran from Sept. 12 to 14 and linked marine science, local culture and small-business sales opportunities, according to RRI. The event centered on a rare upwelling that researchers say can sharply cool near-surface water for a short period.

RRI reported that the phenomenon, locally known as Air Laut Dingin or Aladin, can drop sea-surface temperatures by more than 10 degrees Celsius and typically lasts about one to two hours. A separate scientific paper on the seas of Alor Kecil describes extreme upwelling events in the area as sudden temperature drops of more than 10 degrees Celsius that can occur twice a day and last less than an hour.

The festival program in Alor Kecil included fun run, traditional fishing, canoeing, traditional archery, tug-of-war, dragon boat races, decorated bicycles, war dances and a competition to catch Aladin fish, according to RRI. The same report said the event also featured a photography contest, gastronomy activities, pottery displays, cake-making demonstrations, and exhibitions of local products including Alor ikat textiles, handicrafts and food.

Local officials and researchers have presented the cold-water event as a way to draw visitors while supporting household incomes. RRI said the village government has encouraged residents to prepare homestays and food stalls so tourists can stay longer and buy local goods, while Deputy Regent Rocky Winaryo described the festival as part of a broader effort to connect natural and cultural assets with tourism and community economic development.

RRI also reported that researchers from Universitas Diponegoro and Universitas Tribuana Kalabahi are working with local authorities on a monitoring and forecasting system called C-Aladin, based on Internet of Things technology. The system is intended to help predict when the phenomenon will appear, after which it has historically been difficult to time because it occurs only briefly.

The scientific paper published by the Tropical Oceanography Society found that in situ measurements in Alor Kecil recorded an extreme upwelling event in which near-surface temperature fell by 10 degrees Celsius within one hour, reaching a minimum of about 12 degrees Celsius. The paper also found that the cold water appears twice daily during such events.

Festival organizers have not publicly detailed the number of participating micro, small and medium enterprises, sales generated, or exact attendance in the reports reviewed by Komodo Times. RRI later reported that the wider Wisma Raya II and Festival Aladin 2026 drew about 25,000 to 35,000 visitors over five nights, including local residents, domestic tourists and some foreign visitors.

Authorities also urged residents and visitors not to dump waste into the sea and to follow environmentally responsible tourism practices, according to RRI. The reports did not provide formal safety guidance on swimming, cold-water exposure, boat operations or access restrictions during the event.

Festival Aladin 2026 in brief

• Dates: Sept. 12-14, 2026
• Location: Alor Kecil, Alor Barat Laut district, Alor regency
• Phenomenon window: August to November, according to RRI
• Reported duration: about one to two hours
• Reported temperature drop: more than 10 degrees Celsius

Festival Aladin was presented as both a marine attraction and a platform for local economic development, with organizers and researchers framing Aladin as a rare natural event that can be better anticipated through scientific monitoring. The collaboration among local government, universities and residents is expected to continue as tourism planning around the phenomenon develops.

Sources

• RRI.co.id - Festival Aladin 2026 di Alor Kecil Angkat Fenomena Air Laut Dingin Jadi Ikon Wisata
• The Oceanography Society - Extreme Upwelling Events in the Seas of the Alor Kecil, Alor Island, Indonesia