How strong is hotel demand in Labuan Bajo?

Tourism demand in Labuan Bajo is substantial but uneven: Manggarai Barat recorded the highest star-hotel occupancy in Nusa Tenggara Timur at 73.53% in July 2025, while the average stay across the province’s star hotels was 1.64 nights, according to BPS, 2025. For tourism businesses, the figures point to strong room demand alongside limited visitor duration.

How full were hotels in Labuan Bajo?

Star hotels in Manggarai Barat recorded a room-occupancy rate of 73.53% in July 2025, the highest among districts and cities listed by BPS for Nusa Tenggara Timur. The province-wide star-hotel rate was 50.95% in the same month, according to BPS, 2025.

BPS also counted 65,002 guests in star hotels across Nusa Tenggara Timur in July 2025. Domestic guests made up 63.13% of that total, and the average stay was 1.64 nights, according to BPS, 2025.

What does that mean for tourism operators?

The data indicates that accommodation demand can be strong in Manggarai Barat without implying long stays. A high occupancy rate measures rooms occupied, while the 1.64-night average measures duration; the two figures answer different business questions.

For businesses serving visitors beyond accommodation, the short provincial average makes the timing and location of visitor spending relevant. BOPLBF reported in April 2025 that many tourists spend much of their time at sea, including on liveaboard boats, limiting direct economic effects for businesses and communities on land.

Are visitors arriving by sea as well as by air?

Yes. BOPLBF reported that immigration recorded 4,778 arrivals through Labuan Bajo port in March 2025, while Komodo International Airport recorded 2,057 arrivals, according to BOPLBF, 2025.

The same BOPLBF report said the March 2025 average length of stay in surveyed Labuan Bajo hotels was 2.15 nights. It also reported occupancy of 43.5% for resorts, 21.3% for five-star hotels and 30.4% for four-star hotels during that period.

What is the clearest business takeaway?

Labuan Bajo’s tourism economy combines high hotel occupancy in Manggarai Barat with relatively short stays and substantial sea-based activity. Businesses therefore face a market in which demand exists, but its economic reach depends on whether visitors spend time on land as well as on boats.

Sources

• Badan Pusat Statistik Provinsi
• Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores