Located on the western tip of Flores Island, Labuan Bajo has long been known as the gateway to one of Indonesia’s natural wonders, Komodo National Park. However, the history of Labuan Bajo itself is rich and fascinating, from a small fishing village to a tourist destination.
The Early History of Labuan Bajo
The name Labuan Bajo comes from: “Labuan” is a Filipino word meaning ‘harbor,’ ‘Bajo’ refers to the Bajo tribe, a group of seafaring people who have long inhabited the area. As a small harbor, Labuan Bajo originally is a stopover for Bajo fishermen who lived on the move, also a stopping point for traders passing through the Flores Sea.
The Bajo tribe themselves are known as accomplished sailors who have sailed far in the waters of the archipelago. Over time, Labuan Bajo became an important port, although it remained relatively unknown to the outside world until the late 20th century. During this time, Labuan Bajo began to attract attention as an ecotourism destination after the opening of Komodo National Park in 1980.
Labuan Bajo Now: A Fast-Growing Tourism Destination
In recent years, Labuan Bajo has developed into one of Indonesia’s top tourist destinations. As the gateway to Komodo National Park, the town now attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year who want to see the Komodo dragons, unspoiled beaches, and crystal clear waters that are the main attractions of the region. The town has seen a lot of development with better infrastructure, new hotels, restaurants, and last but not least – the dive centers making Labuan Bajo one of the best scuba diving destinations in Indonesia which Amare Divers is so proud to be a part of the community.
As mentioned above, one of the standout features of Labuan Bajo’s tourism industry is its world-class scuba diving opportunities. The waters around Flores are rich with marine life, including healthy coral reefs, sea turtles, manta rays, reef & pelagic fish, and so on… This underwater biodiversity makes it an incredible place for divers from beginner to advanced levels.