(malangkota.go.id) – Malang Flower Carnival (MFC) will be back in Malang City. Precisely on September 15, 2019, the event which has entered its ninth year will be held on Jl. Ijen, Malang City.
This year's Malang Flower Carnival carries the theme 'Padma Nusa', Teratai Nusantara. The goal is to explore the beauty of Indonesian lotus flowers. This event is also an effort to brand Malang City as the City of Flowers. MFC is one of eight events included in the 100 Calendar of Events (CoE) Wonderful Indonesia held throughout 2019.
Deputy for Marketing I of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, Rizki Handayani, does not doubt the specialness of MFC, including in terms of attracting tourists. It is proven that there are always foreign tourists who want to participate in MFC.
This year, there are representatives from five countries who will be contestants in MFC 2019. The countries are Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Egypt, and Mali.
"The foreign participants will wear costumes themed Bunga Nusantara. Costumes with strong colors plus makeup are provided by the organizer," said Rizki, Thursday (1/8).
Rizki added that economic activity will be seen in Malang City during the event. Such as the average hotel occupancy of at least 60%. Some even have an occupancy rate of 98%.
"This is also a positive signal, namely the movement of mass inflow of tourists from outside Malang. The estuary of tourism activities is economic growth. In addition to its attractions, the accessibility and amenities aspects in Malang are the best. We are happy to hear that Malang's economy is moving because of this event," explained Rizki.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Calendar of Event (CoE) Implementation Team, Esthy Reko Astuty, assessed that the Malang Flower Carnival is always exciting.
"MFC is one of eight events included in CoE 2019 and represents East Java. Every year it always appears sensational," said Esthy.
Esthy said, the event organization is an important part of the 3A elements (Attractions, Amenities, and Accessibility). The goal is to advance tourism which will have a direct economic impact on the community. In addition, it is hoped that hotel occupancy and the number of tourists will continue to increase.
"Based on the committee's report, the implementation of MFC 2018 was attended by 296 participants and attracted more than 20.000 visitors. Thus, it has a direct impact on the economy of Malang city. It is predicted that there will be 250 to 300 participants and 22.000 spectators who will enliven this year's event," said Esthy.
MFC has a great reputation. They have represented Indonesia 36 times in major international events. MFC once won the Best Perform and Best Costume in Moscow, Russia, in October 2014. MFC also won the champion status for Best Traditional Costume Hilo Green Ambassador 2014.
Then in 2016, Best National Costume was won by Miss Queen Tourism Ambassador International in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“This MFC is amazing. It confirms Malang as the City of Flowers. The world standard. Because, all aspects in Malang are the best. Then, they are also truly inspiring. Moreover, this MFC is designed to be very environmentally friendly,” explained Esthy.
Meanwhile, Head of the Malang City Culture and Tourism Office Ida Ayu Made Wahyuni, SH, M.Si said, the participants of MFC 2019 are predicted to increase. Especially participants from Malang City and other cities in East Java.
Even from outside East Java such as from Jogja, Central Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Kalimantan.
"The event is packed as much as possible, Jl. Ijen along 800 meters which is one of the icons of Malang City will be made flowery by hundreds of designers and students. It is aligned with the Padma Nusa theme carried in the 2019 series," said Ida Ayu.
President of MFC (Malang Flower Carnival) Indonesia, Agus Sunandar representing the MFC Community and the Chairperson of the MFC 2019 Executive Committee, explained that MFC 2019 participants were divided into two categories, namely children and adults.
The children's category is followed by participants aged 6-13 years. While the adult / general category applies to participants aged over 14 years. Carnival participants will wear clothes with three main criteria, namely, Glamor, Monumental (large dimensions) and Ergonomic / comfortable and easy to use, strutting along Jalan Ijen with a runway length of 800 meters. The road conditions are straight and shady. Suitable for use for catwalks, street carnivals.
The costumes that are contested and joined in the parade are new creations from the participants. Meanwhile, participants who have won last year can no longer participate in the competition with the same costume.
"This is intended to trigger the creativity of the community. And to bring up new, more innovative designs, so that the creativity of the community increases even more to strengthen and reaffirm Malang City as the World's Creative City," added Agus Sunandar.
Despite displaying a carnival of floral costumes, MFC remains friendly to all. This event is transformed into a big stage for the creative economy. There are also a series of other activities that can be enjoyed at this carnival.
Such as colossal dance, music and dance, also costumes with Indonesian themes. There are 6 sub-sectors of the creative economy involved. They are culinary, fashion, performing arts, photography, fine arts, and craft arts.
"In the implementation of this 9th event, MFC has indeed collaborated massively with other sub-sectors. We are indeed creating a creative economic ecosystem in Malang City. Later, the system here will have a collaboration basis. We are optimistic that Malang will become a creative city in Indonesia, and even the world," he said.
For Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, the splendor of MFC is never in doubt. For those who want to witness the excitement of this agenda, please come to Malang. There are many choices of transportation modes. Starting from trains, buses, and flights, all are available.
"The travel time to Malang from Jakarta is not long. Malang can be reached in about 1 hour 25 minutes by air. Please come to Malang. If from Jakarta you can direct fly to Malang," said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.
Visitors can also choose various accommodations according to their individual needs. There are hotels, guest houses to homestays that can be hunted around the event location and all can be easily searched on the internet.
"I am happy because MFC is quite accommodating of local Indonesian cultures and further explores the uniqueness of Malang and other areas. In the future, accommodation for visitor activities to Malang must be prepared carefully. And the quality of the participants must be maintained," said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.
The MFC event itself is also a warm-up before participating in an international event. With large-sized costumes or clothing, they strutted down Jalan Ijen which during the event will become a kind of catwalk.
"The event is guaranteed to be cool. We have toured the MFC costume in various travel marts, festivals, and shows around the world. And it always becomes a selfie event and special attention for visitors to the Wonderful Indonesia booth," concluded the Minister from East Java. (*/yon)
