As the rhythmic beat of tifa drums echoed across the bustling Plaza Sarinah in Central Jakarta, something remarkable was unfolding. Against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers and neon-lit storefronts, the capital city of Indonesia briefly transformed into a living, breathing story of West Papua.
The scene wasn’t just another cultural event—it was the Festival Teluk Wondama 2025, held on July 23–24, a carefully crafted celebration to commemorate 100 years of Papuan civilization and introduce the hidden beauty of Teluk Wondama, West Papua, to a national—and potentially global—audience.
A Festival Rooted in Legacy
At the heart of the festival lies a story steeped in history, culture, and hope. One hundred years ago, in a modest settlement on Bukit Aitumieri, a Dutch missionary named Izaak Samuel Kijne opened the first formal education center for Papuans. Standing at the top of the hill, he made a declaration that would echo through generations: “Di atas batu ini, saya meletakkan peradaban orang Papua”—On “this rock, I lay the civilization of the Papuan people.
That moment in 1925 marked the beginning of Papuan literacy and formal education, a transformative milestone that would set the course for the region’s future. In 2025, the people of Kabupaten Teluk Wondama chose to honor this centenary not just with ceremony but with a vision—to introduce their homeland to the world.
And what better stage than Jakarta, the capital of the republic?
From the Shores of Wondama to the Streets of Jakarta
Teluk Wondama is a name unfamiliar to many Indonesians. Nestled in the eastern edge of Cenderawasih Bay, the region is a tapestry of turquoise seas, lush rainforests, coral reefs, and rich indigenous traditions. It’s a place where modern tourism hasn’t yet intruded, where visitors can still find solitude among sea turtles, mangroves, and the songs of ancestral rituals.
Yet despite its beauty, Teluk Wondama remains under the radar.
“This festival is not only a cultural celebration but also a strategic tourism and investment campaign,” said Elysa Auri, the Bupati (Regent) of Teluk Wondama. “We want people to know that Teluk Wondama exists and that it is beautiful—not only in nature but also in spirit, in its people, and in its history.”
Cultural Revival in the Capital
The two-day festival took over Plaza Sarinah, a symbolic location in Jakarta that has long been associated with national identity and social change. Visitors were greeted by the colorful patterns of Papuan batik, the scent of smoked sago and grilled fish, and the distinctive hum of Papuan songs and chants.
Among the standout moments was a powerful reenactment of the arrival of Kijne in Aitumieri—performed by local youth wearing traditional attire, with torches in hand, as if reliving a time when knowledge first arrived on their shores.
“This is a story we were told growing up,” said Maria Wondama, one of the performers. “Now we’re telling it to the rest of Indonesia.”
Nearby, UMKM booths (local micro, small, and medium enterprises) showcased Papuan crafts, jewelry, traditional foods, and herbal remedies—offering visitors not only a chance to experience the culture but also to support it economically.
More Than Culture: A Call for Tourism and Investment
But the festival was not just a nostalgic look backward. It was also a launchpad for the future of tourism, the creative economy, and investment in Papua Barat.
Alongside the performances were business forums and investment discussions, focusing on three major sectors in Teluk Wondama: tourism, agriculture, and sustainable mining. The local government used the opportunity to present strategic plans for infrastructure development, eco-lodge construction, conservation-based travel, and community-based tourism.
“The message is clear,” said one tourism official. “We don’t want mass tourism. We want meaningful, respectful tourism that honors nature and people and gives back to both.”
A Destination Made for Healing
Among the highlights of the festival was a travel booth displaying videos and immersive imagery of Wondama’s natural offerings—from the coral gardens of Roon Island to the quiet majesty of Wamesa’s mangrove forests.
A growing number of young Indonesians are searching for what the tourism world now calls “healing destinations”—places to reset, reconnect, and recover. Teluk Wondama, with its remoteness and serenity, may be exactly that.
Diving, snorkeling, island hopping, birdwatching, and cultural homestays are just a few of the activities visitors can experience. And because it remains relatively untouched by tourism, Wondama offers something rare: authenticity.
One Jakarta-based visitor, Ari, summed it up best: “I came here out of curiosity. Now I want to go to Teluk Wondama for real. Not just for vacation, but to learn.”
The Power of Storytelling
What made the festival particularly effective was its use of storytelling. Through panels, performances, short films, and guided tours of the booth installations, visitors were not just watching Papuan culture—they were immersed in its narrative.
One panel discussion featured elders, youth leaders, historians, and artists reflecting on what it means to be Papuan today. They spoke of their hopes, challenges, and pride, not as subjects of a remote province, but as inheritors of a 100-year journey of civilization.
“This is not a closing chapter,” said one speaker. “This is the beginning of a new one.”
Teluk Wondama: The Next Tourism Hotspot?
The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has identified Papua Barat as a priority development region, and events like Festival Teluk Wondama 2025 help build the momentum needed for policy focus and funding.
With its marine biodiversity, cultural heritage, and untapped ecotourism potential, Teluk Wondama could become the next ecotourism hotspot in Indonesia—alongside Raja Ampat and Labuan Bajo. The challenge will be developing sustainably, avoiding the pitfalls of over-tourism, and ensuring that the local Papuan communities are the primary beneficiaries.
The Message from Wondama
As the tifa drums fell silent on the final evening of the festival, a Papuan elder took the microphone. With grace and gravity, he spoke directly to the audience:
“You see our songs, our dance, our crafts, and our smiles. But behind all this is something deeper—a long journey from silence to voice. We want to be seen not just as remote, but as rich. Not as forgotten, but as rising.”
His words were followed by a standing ovation, not just from fellow Papuans, but from hundreds of Jakartans who, for a moment, had journeyed across the archipelago without leaving the city.
Conclusion
The Festival Teluk Wondama 2025 was more than a tribute. It was a message—a reminder that even the most distant corners of Indonesia hold treasures waiting to be discovered. With its blend of heritage and vision, Teluk Wondama offers not only a destination but also a story worth traveling for.
As the spotlight in Jakarta dims, another light begins to shine—far to the east, in the forests, reefs, and communities of Teluk Wondama, where the future of sustainable Indonesian tourism may quietly be taking shape.