The 7th Nusa Penida Festival in 2024 has officially opened. The opening began with the Pekelem Ceremony accompanied by the Peed Sanganan Pengeluar from Lembongan Village and a Rejang Renteng dance performance by 1000 (one thousand) dancers from Lembongan and Jungut Batu.
The opening was marked by the beating of the gong by the Acting (Pj) Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Jendrika along with the Governor’s Expert Staff for Human Development and Culture Ir. I Made Sudarsana, M.Si, House of Representative Bali, I Nyoman Suwirta, Regional Secretary of Klungkung Regency, Anak Agung Gede Lesmana, Head of the Klungkung Regency Tourism Office, Ni Made Sulistiawati and other related agencies.
On that occasion, Jendrika said that the Nusa Penida Festival has been held since 2014. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival was paused for 3 (three) years from 2020 to 2022. With the spirit of advancing tourism in Nusa Penida, encouraging the community’s economy and supporting the program of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the event is running again regularly from 2023.
“We should be proud that the Nusa Penida Festival has been included in the National Event Calendar which has previously passed a very strict selection, so that it has become a national flagship event through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said as quoted from Media Bali newspaper.
Jendrika also added that the Nusa Penida Festival will be held for 3 (three) days from 10 to 12 October 2024 filled with various activities including cultural attractions, conservation, competitions, fun trips, music, craft or UMKM exhibitions, and so on.
The theme raised is “The Essence of Island Life” which describes the peaceful natural beauty and unique cultural traditions, defining life on the island, reflecting simplicity, harmony with nature and a sense of togetherness that makes life on the island special and authentic. The Nusa Penida Festival is held with the aim of introducing tourism potential as an effort to increase tourist visits.
This festival is also combined with the launching of the Blue Print Nusa Lembongan Road To Digital Island. “With this Nusa Penida Festival, it will be a new spirit for the advancement of tourism and the economy in Klungkung Regency, especially Nusa Penida,” he hoped.
After opening the 7th Nusa Penida Festival, Adyatama Tourism and Creative Economy Main Expert of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf, Nia Niscaya admitted that she really appreciated the implementation of the Nusa Penida Festival. She admitted that the Festival activities were truly extraordinary in addition to introducing the potential of its natural beauty, it also promoted the characteristics of traditional customs and culture. This festival, which has been included in the National Event Calendar, must continue to be improved in the future to promote Nusa Penida so that tourist visits can continue to increase and Klungkung will continue to progress.