Seven NTT tourism villages make Indonesia’s 2024 ADWI Top 500

Kupang — Seven tourism villages in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) were named among the 500 selected entries in Indonesia’s 2024 Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia (ADWI), placing them in the national evaluation pipeline for the year’s village tourism awards, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and regional media reports.

The 500-strong list was announced by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy on 21 May 2024 through its Jadesta village tourism platform, marking the first national screening stage for ADWI 2024.

Regional coverage from NTT identifies seven villages in the province that entered this 500-stage.

The seven tourism villages are:

• Fatumnasi, Timor Tengah Selatan (South Central Timor) district
• Hadakewa, Lembata district
• Tiworiwu, also known as Bena Traditional Village, Ngada district
• Wae Lolos, West Manggarai district
• Liang Ndara, West Manggarai district
• Pero Komba, Southwest Sumba district
• Golo Loni, East Manggarai district

Progress beyond the Top 500

The initial 500-entry list is a preliminary recognition step and does not in itself indicate final award status.

By late May 2024 the ministry had narrowed the field to 300 villages, and on 26 May 2024 it published the 50 best tourism villages for ADWI 2024, including Fatumnasi and Tiworiwu from NTT.

Subsequent reporting from NTT-based outlets confirms that Fatumnasi and Tiworiwu advanced from the 500-stage to the final 50, where Fatumnasi was recognised in the “rintisan” or pioneering category.

Hadakewa, meanwhile, is listed on the Jadesta platform as reaching the Top 100 in ADWI 2024, indicating further progress in the competition beyond the initial 500-stage.

The available information does not show that Wae Lolos, Liang Ndara, Pero Komba or Golo Loni reached the Top 50, but their inclusion in the national shortlist positions them for continued promotion and development support.

Tourism village development in NTT

Statements from NTT tourism officials reported by local media link the ADWI nominations to a broader strategy to elevate village-based destinations across the province.

The officials describe tourism villages as a way to diversify visitor flows beyond major gateways and into rural areas that offer cultural heritage, landscapes and community-based experiences.

Examples cited include Fatumnasi, a highland village in Timor Tengah Selatan, and Tiworiwu, widely known to travellers as Bena Traditional Village, a megalithic settlement near Bajawa in Ngada district.

Village recognition through ADWI, according to these reports, is seen as an opportunity to raise the profile of such destinations among domestic travellers and international visitors already familiar with NTT’s better-known islands and marine attractions.

Context: NTT and ADWI

Previous ADWI cycles have brought national attention to NTT villages such as Wae Rebo in Manggarai and Tebara/Prai Ijing in Sumba Barat, which advanced to finalist stages in earlier years.

For 2024, the combination of Fatumnasi, Tiworiwu and Hadakewa progressing beyond the initial Top 500 continues this pattern of NTT representation in the awards and underscores the province’s growing portfolio of recognised tourism villages.

For travellers, the ADWI listings offer a curated starting point for exploring lesser-known destinations in NTT, but they are not a full certification of visitor readiness; prospective visitors still need to check current conditions, access, services and accommodation with local operators or official channels before travelling.

Sources

• Jadesta – Menparekraf Umumkan 500 Besar ADWI 2024
• TribunFlores – Seribu Air Terjun, Desa Wae Lolos Masuk Kategori Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia
• Sulawesion – Daftar Lengkap 50 Besar Desa Wisata Terbaik ADWI 2024
• Koran NTT – Desa Fatumnasi di TTS Masuk 50 Besar Desa Wisata Terbaik Indonesia Tahun 2024
• iNews Sumba – Desa Tebara Sumba Barat, Raih Predikat 8 Desa Wisata Maju Terbaik ADWI 2023