The Sail Moyo Tambora 2018 sailing event and festival was officially launched on September 9 in Badas Harbour, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara - a testament to the resilient spirit of Lombok and Sumbawa as the sailing event goes on just months after a series of earthquakes rocked the islands.

This year’s festival highlights the recovery of health infrastructure, social and philanthropic efforts, as well as the local tourism industry, a lifeline for many islanders.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, launched the Sail Moyo Tambora Festival serving as the official representative of the Republic of Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo.

The opening ceremony was a colourful programme featuring mass dance performances from Sumbawa and Bima, a parade of 1,000 traditional boats, and a yacht rally comprised of international vessels and crews passing through Indonesian waters before heading to Thailand.

Sail Moyo Tambora 2018, which runs till September 23, is part of Sail Indonesia, an annual sailing event in which participating yachts depart from Darwin, Australia, and stop at various destinations within Indonesia. The sailing event provides an opportunity for sailors to experience local cultures through festivals and activities at each destination. Highlights include a visit to Tambora active volcano, trips to art attractions, involvement in traditional ox racing and a weaving festival. A total of 140 yachts from 35 countries are expected to sail through Indonesia waters during the event.

Located on the northern shore of Sumbawa, Moyo Island is filled with luxurious resorts in view of pristine beaches and clear water. Moyo has already garnered attention from International travellers and public figures who lauded their visit to the island. Notable visitors to Moyo include the late Princess Diana, Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger, and former President of The United States, Bill Clinton.

Tambora is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. When Tambora erupted in 1815, the volcanic dust covered most regions in the world, even lengthening the duration of winter in several European countries.

The West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Board forged ahead with the planned event, despite the recent earthquakes in Lombok. In fact, the event is regarded as an opportunity to help the province revitalise its tourism in the aftermath of the disaster, communicating to the world that the province is ready to host tourists again. Prior to the event, director general of Sea Transportation, Arif Toha Tjahjagama, stated: "The 2018 Sail Moyo Tambora will be held according to schedule. This marks a spirit to revive NTB's tourism sector after the earthquake.”

In addition to the typical festivities, special activities including service projects and fundraising endeavours are underway to help individuals and communities impacted by the earthquakes. - TradeArabia News Service