Beneath the brilliant glow of Biak’s coastal sunrise, a mosaic of colours painted the sky and land as dancers adorned in traditional Cenderawasih bird feathers took center stage. The drums of the highlands met the rhythms of the sea, fusing together the heartbeats of Papua’s many tribes. The 2025 Cenderawasih Festival, held from June 13–15, emerged not only as a dazzling cultural showcase but also as a key economic engine, signalling a pivotal transformation for the region.
This year’s theme, “Sinergitas Mendorong Papua Tumbuh Kuat dan Inklusif” (“Synergy Drives Papua to Grow Strong and Inclusive”), was more than a tagline — it captured a growing sentiment among stakeholders, from government to grassroots: that culture can be a catalyst for prosperity.
A Celebration Rooted in Identity
Named after the iconic bird of paradise — Cenderawasih — which is endemic to the region and often symbolizes freedom, beauty, and hope, the festival is a tribute to Papua’s rich biodiversity, diverse ethnic traditions, and resilient communities. From the shores of Biak to the mountainous regions of Wamena, over 500 performers and thousands of attendees converged to celebrate their shared heritage.
Dances such as the Yospan and Wutukala, storytelling through wood carving, culinary exhibitions, and traditional boat parades created a sensory feast. But beyond the festivities, it was the presence of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), youth innovation booths, and sustainable tourism dialogues that highlighted the deeper purpose of the event.
Papua’s Head of Tourism, Jonathan Rawar, noted during the opening ceremony, “Festival Cenderawasih is no longer just about preserving tradition — it’s about weaving that tradition into a roadmap for inclusive economic growth.”
Tourism on the Rise
The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy recently included the Biak Munara Wampasi Festival — one of the key highlights within the broader Cenderawasih Festival program — in the national Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2025 agenda. This elevated status placed the festival among the most important cultural events in Indonesia, drawing attention from international media and travel agencies.
With chartered flights bringing tourists from Jakarta, Makassar, and even Singapore, hotel occupancy rates in Biak surged to 90% during the week of the festival. Local homestays — often operated by indigenous families — reported fully booked schedules months in advance. Travel operators, local guides, and ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers experienced a welcome spike in demand.
According to preliminary data from the Biak Numfor Tourism Office, the 2025 festival drew approximately 25,000 visitors, an increase of 45% from 2023. This influx generated an estimated IDR 38 billion (~USD 2.3 million) in direct and indirect revenue for local businesses.
MSMEs and Women Entrepreneurs Take the Stage
A major breakthrough in this year’s edition was the inclusion of an MSME Village, where over 300 stalls displayed handwoven noken bags, sago-based snacks, carved ornaments, and Papuan batik. Many of these stalls were managed by indigenous women, marking a powerful stride for gender-inclusive economic development.
“We used to sell only at the Sunday market in Bosnik,” said Maria Yom, a mother of four who sells traditional Papuan jewelry. “But now, tourists and even buyers from Java are placing bulk orders. I earned in one week what I used to earn in three months.”
Workshops on digital marketing, packaging, and product certification were also conducted by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs in collaboration with Gojek and Tokopedia. This represents a major shift toward formalizing and scaling indigenous businesses through digital transformation.
Youth Innovation and Education
Another striking feature of the festival was the “Papua Emas Pavilion” (Golden Papua Pavilion), a youth-oriented space where student groups from Cenderawasih University, STIH Biak, and Universitas Papua presented innovation projects ranging from solar-powered fish dryers to eco-tourism apps.
This initiative, supported by the Papua Youth Creative Hub (PYCH), embodies the province’s long-term strategy to produce a “Golden Generation” of Papuans by 2045 — a term that symbolizes self-reliant, educated, and culturally grounded young people.
In a speech that resonated deeply with the crowd, festival ambassador and social entrepreneur Fanny Korwa said, “Our ancestors left us the wisdom of the forests and seas. It is our duty to transform that wisdom into innovation, into value, into opportunity.”
Environmental and Cultural Sustainability
Balancing cultural tourism and ecological preservation was another focal point. In partnership with WWF Indonesia and local customary councils, the festival organizers introduced the “Cenderawasih Oath” — a symbolic commitment to protect endemic species, such as the bird of paradise, from illegal hunting and trafficking.
Eco-tourism packages promoted during the festival highlighted birdwatching in Sawai Bay, snorkeling in Padaido Islands, and community-based trekking in the Arfak Mountains — each emphasizing minimal impact and local benefit.
Customary leaders, known as Ondoafi, were involved in land-use dialogues ensuring that tourism infrastructure respects sacred sites and community needs. This cultural-ecological synergy is paving a model for respectful, sustainable development.
Government Commitment and Intersectoral Synergy
Governor Muhammad Musa’ad, alongside high-level representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Cooperatives, and local regents, emphasized that the festival is part of a larger strategic framework: the Papua Development Acceleration Masterplan.
“The economic development of Papua must align with its culture, not erase it,” Musa’ad remarked. “That is why we are investing in events like Festival Cenderawasih — they are not expenses; they are economic levers.”
The festival served as a platform for signing multiple MoUs, including:
- A partnership between Biak Numfor Regency and East Java’s Banyuwangi Regency for tourism exchange.
- Funding agreements from Bank Papua for MSME support.
- A youth internship program supported by the Ministry of Education, targeting creative industries in Jayapura and Sorong.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the festivities, not all aspects are without critique. Infrastructure remains a bottleneck, particularly in the highlands. Access roads to remote attractions are limited, and digital connectivity remains uneven.
Moreover, local observers have raised concerns about ensuring equitable profit distribution from tourism-related ventures and avoiding cultural commodification. There is a growing call for community-based tourism boards with decision-making authority, especially among indigenous women and youth.
Cultural anthropologist Dr. Levi Wanimbo, from Universitas Cenderawasih, stated “We must be vigilant not to turn our sacred traditions into mere spectacle. True development honors participation, not just visibility.”
Transforming Festivities Into Long-Term Prosperity
What makes the 2025 Cenderawasih Festival especially remarkable is not just the explosion of color, music, or tradition — but the strategic threading of those elements into Papua’s economic and social fabric.
From bustling MSME booths to tourism packages co-designed with local elders, from children learning ancestral songs to young coders launching eco-travel apps, the festival reflects a region that is owning its narrative and diversifying its future.
As the final firework burst over the ocean, echoing across the hills of Biak, the spirit of the Cenderawasih — graceful, enduring, and vibrant — seemed to rise with it. In Papua, the wings of culture are now lifting the engines of growth.
Conclusion
The 2025 Cenderawasih Festival is more than just a cultural celebration — it is a strategic driver of inclusive economic development in Papua. By integrating traditional arts, tourism, local entrepreneurship, youth innovation, and environmental sustainability, the festival demonstrates how cultural heritage can be harnessed for economic empowerment. In essence, the festival shows that when cultural pride and economic strategy align, communities can thrive — not just through celebration, but through meaningful transformation. The spirit of the Cenderawasih, symbolizing resilience and beauty, now also represents Papua’s economic awakening and future prosperity.
