Papua Holds The 28th Baliem Valley Cultural Festival

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta- To promote Papua tourism destinations in the international arena, Jayawijaya Regional Government, Jayawijaya Tourism Office and Ministry of Tourism will hold the 28th Baliem Valley Cultural Festival on 8 to 11 August 2017, in Welesi District, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua.

"This is the oldest festival in Papua, where hundreds of tribes scattered throughout the island will show their culture. During the Festival, the visitors will also participate in dance and interact directly with the people of Papua, "said Regent Jayawijaya, John Wempi Wetipo, during a press conference in Jakarta, Friday (28/07/2017).

He said that through this festival, his side wanted to preserve the ancestral heritage culture in Jayawijaya area which began to erode along with the development of the era, so that can be enjoyed by Jayawijaya & Papua in particular, and the Indonesian people in general.

"With the Baliem Valley Festival 2017, this event is expected to increase the economic level of Jayawijaya community, whether it is drivers, car owners, hotel owners, shop owners, as well as increasing local revenue in the tourism sector," he said.

While the Chairman of the FBLB 2017 Executing Committee, Gemiantoro Rahardjo, stated at the 28th Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, there will be some new categories that will be in the show, including MURI (ORI) & RHR record breaking for the 1000 Sege Throwing Category (Dani traditional spear) .

"There are also photo contests with total prizes of tens of millions of rupiah, Baliem Lembah Cultural attractions, PIKON musical instruments (traditional Jayawijaya musical instruments), war attractions by 3000 (three thousand) participants from 40 districts in Jayawijaya District, - Traditional dance Baliem Valley, karb pig and race make fire ala Dani tribe, "he explained

He added that the preparations at the venue now have reached 90 percent for the opening ceremony up to the 2017 FBLB closure. The team from MURI Records will arrive at Wamena on 3 August 2017 to check the readiness of the event.