Hello, Flores Traveler readers, introducing I am Arin. Few days ago I was invited by Flores Traveler management to be partner for surveying several tourist boats. Here is a bit of story from our trip after carrying out a survey along with FT team within two days in Labuan Bajo.
Consciously or not, getting information instantly is a trend that has been formed since gadgets were invented and began to be widely used as a means of communication and fulfilling the need for information, via the internet and social media. Apart from that, some habits such as hearing and trusting information obtained from people can have quite fatal consequences and may become a mistake if they are not accommodated by direct surveys to gain satisfaction and confidence in the work of tour service providers. One of them is a person or community who works as a tour operator tour agent who provides services and information to travelers regarding an access to facilities and amenities, accommodations, places to eat or transportation.
Based on the reasons stated above and some other reasons from experience and work evaluation, Flores Traveler initiated an annual survey agenda and will routinely carry out the same pattern every year. I personally feel fortunate for the experience entrusted by the FT management to include my name as a partner in conducting this boat surveys. Together with Ino, as the photographer, Erlan as the head of the survey project and Tony at the steering wheel, we executed this project according to published procedures from December 10 to 11 2022.
The FT team consisting of four people (Tony, Erlan, Arin, and Avelino) moved towards Labuan Bajo.
Around 9 AM on Sunday, under the cloudless sky of Ruteng, we started our survey to the Western part of Nusa Nipa (original name to Flores Island). Until half way, we pulled over to drink at a warung in Lembor. While drinking coffee, Erlan started explaining what to do in Labuan Bajo and the reasons why this survey was made. The journey continued after a cup of coffee.
The trip from Ruteng to Labuan Bajo took approximately 5 hours. At 12 PM we arrived in Labuan Bajo, we waited a while to complete an appointment with the boat captain who will be the first resource person, while stopping at a warung for lunch.
After lunch and getting confirmation from the boat captain, we started driving the car to the pier. We went on the lifeboat along with the captain of the Mata Komodo boat who had been waiting for us. After that, we continued to the next boat until the list of boats to be surveyed on the first day has been completed.
The next day, we fulfilled our meeting that has been appointed before with other boat companies. The number of the boats that we surveyed was 12 boats consisting of standard cabin AC boat, Semi Phinisi, Phinisi, and speedboats.
The FT team met with the boat’s manager as part of the survey data collection.
As a man who just recognized the tourism circle, I only carried out my duties according to the directions set by the FT team, and for the rest I paid more attention to the conversations that had occurred after the survey questions had been given. There Involved in surveys free discussions , I gained quite a lot of knowledge and information related to the world of tourism in Flores, Manggarai or even Labuan Bajo in particular. At least I knew the basic material that distinguishes the types of phinisi and those that are not, from this survey I understood that basically phinisi has 7 sails spread out.
The survey we conducted went well, even though we could not meet several boat companies due to certain reasons. This survey summarized several important things related to boat information, such as boat type, engine, boat safety facilities and cabin rooms, price and boat carrying capacity. This information is a very important preparation for hopping islands tour service providers to know before presenting the options in the catalog about boats that are collaborating with Flores Traveler tour services. Apparently, we were well received by the boat companies, some of the interviewees we met even admitted that direct survey like the one we did was relatively new to them while they were working in the world of tourism and boat services. They admitted that, direct surveys like this made by FT management is good and important to be carried out as often as possible by those engaged in the world of tourism for the sake of updating information about boat services, as well as to avoid complaints from travelers who use tourism and boat services.
Before explaining the reasons underlying the management of FT to carry out a two-day boat survey, I will finish the story of our journey.
We returned to Ruteng on Monday afternoon, the car drove at a moderate speed while we sat on the back of Tony sharing about what we have done. Occasionally we let only loud music in the car, there was also a small evaluation of the previous day’s journey regarding surveys. We arrived in Ruteng at midnight and Tony took me home.
Erlan and Arin conducted a survey directly on the boat together with the boat’s crew.
Two days later the four of us, me, Erlan and Tony, together with Irwan as the admin and FT manager completed the survey data and reconfirmed the boats that we could not meet to survey by sending survey questions in form of electronic documents via WhatsApp messages and asking the boat companies to fill the surveys questions list.
The followings are some of the basic reasons why FT management feels it is important to conduct a boat survey;
- The survey was carried out in preparation for a tour in the coming year, since several travelers have confirmed to the FT management that in 2023, they will hire them for touring in and around Komodo National Park.
- As an evaluation material for guest complaints on several occasions, about unsatisfactory service on previous tours.
- Realizing that several complaints arose as a result of the team’s negligence which only received uncertain information from other informants without being based on the power of direct surveys related to the situation and condition of the boat, the search, observation and data collection through direct surveys were felt to be very important as satisfaction and reinforcement regarding the correctness of information in the field.
- As one of the tour agents that puts forward the concept of sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism, this survey was also made with the hidden intention to look directly and in more detail about the facilities and condition of boats that are able to support the concept of sustainable tourism from the FT team.
- To compile a catalog of boat lists and introduce travelers who want to do hopping island tours or liveaboard, so that negotiations run smoothly when travelers ask about boat options.
- To avoid repeated communication regarding the services and facilities on the boat with the boats managements or those involved, which are felt to be sufficient to disrupt the smooth flow of communication between travelers and tour operators or between tour operators and the boat company.
Enjoy your day and greetings from Flores Traveler- Value Your Holiday!!
