Ministry, BPOLBF push Parapuar food forest to link tourism and food security

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs and the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) are linking tourism development in Parapuar with local food security through a “food forest” concept that combines conservation, food production and community livelihoods.

The collaboration was highlighted in a Sunset Dialogue held at Parapuar, Labuan Bajo, on 30 July 2026, during the ministry’s working visit to West Manggarai Regency to monitor regional food-security programmes, according to local media and BPOLBF.

The dialogue brought together central and local government officials, tourism stakeholders, participants in Floratama Academy 2026 and representatives of small enterprises to discuss how destination development can support diversified local food systems rather than relying solely on visitor spending.

Food forest concept at Parapuar

Parapuar is being developed by BPOLBF as an integrated tourism area under an “Ethno-Eco-Edu-Culture-Nature Conservation” framework, positioning the site as a land-based complement to marine attractions in and around Komodo National Park.

Coverage of the Sunset Dialogue describes the food-forest initiative as adding several layers of function to the tourism landscape at Parapuar: environmental conservation, local food production, education for visitors and residents, and economic activity for nearby communities.

FloresPos, BPOLBF and Floresku.com report that the symbolic planting at Parapuar included seven varieties of fruit trees: Miyazaki, Nam Dok Mai, Agrimania and Kiojay mangoes, Black Diamond guava, Jumbo Alligator avocado and Jumbo Thailand sapodilla.

Officials characterised the planting as an initial step toward a productive landscape with ecological value and the potential to generate income from local food supplies connected to tourism.

Linking local food to tourism supply chains

Dirhansyah Conbul, secretary to the deputy for food affordability and security at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, said government programmes must deliver tangible benefits to local communities and that forest-based food production around tourism destinations can become an additional source of income.

According to FloresPos and Floresku.com, Dirhansyah argued that strengthening local food resources would reduce community dependence on tourist spending alone and support a more resilient destination economy.

Mochamad Saleh Nugrahadi, assistant deputy for food reserves and assistance, identified moringa as one high-potential local product in East Nusa Tenggara and stressed the need to improve production and downstream processing so that local resources can generate greater added value.

For tourism businesses such as hotels and restaurants, officials and BPOLBF emphasised that downstream processing and reliable supply chains are essential if local food products are to be integrated consistently into destination offerings.

However, the reports do not specify numerical production targets, a timetable for harvests or concrete purchasing arrangements with Labuan Bajo hospitality operators, indicating that the initiative remains at an early implementation stage focused on planting, capacity-building and cross-sector coordination.

Community benefit and cross-sector collaboration

BPOLBF acting president director Andhy M.T. Marpaung linked Labuan Bajo’s status as a national priority tourism destination with a responsibility to ensure that growth translates into community welfare, including through food forests and agrotourism models that integrate environmental protection and local food use into destination development.

BPOLBF statements and local coverage describe the Parapuar initiative as part of a broader strategy to build sustainable, inclusive tourism supported by local supply chains, including collaboration with cooperatives such as Pesantren Al-Ittifaq and programmes like Floratama Academy that mentor local food businesses.

The Sunset Dialogue at Parapuar was attended by officials from agriculture, food, trade, industry and tourism agencies in East Nusa Tenggara and West Manggarai, along with business associations and small enterprises, underscoring an intended cross-sector approach to food security in tourism destinations.

While detailed operational arrangements have yet to be disclosed, the Parapuar food-forest concept positions Labuan Bajo’s emerging land-based attractions as a testing ground for integrating local crops, agrotourism and destination food supply in one landscape.

Sources

• Viva NTT (kuliner-wisata channel)
• BPOLBF official site
• Floresku.com
• FloresPos (Parapuar tourism development article)