Tomohon International Flower Festival 2026 Strengthens Local Tourism Appeal and Local Economy

The Tomohon International Flower Festival (TIFF) 2026 will once again bring the distinct vibrant identity of Tomohon City, North Sulawesi, onto the international stage. Held from 8 to 12 August 2026, this annual flower festival not only strengthens Tomohon's standing as the City of Flowers, but also serves as a major tourism attraction.

The Ministry of Creative Economy recognises that Tomohon holds a strong local identity through its rich floricultural assets. This unique characteristic forms a critical foundation to develop Tomohon as a premier tourism destination.

Irene Umar, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy / Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency, stated that Tomohon's identity extends far beyond its title as a flower city. The region also hosts exclusive native varieties including the Kulo Chrysanthemum and Riri Chrysanthemum, which serve as core pillars of the region's floricultural identity.

"I hope we will see far more local communities, domestic and international travellers come to visit Tomohon," stated Irene in an official press release received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Flower Parade as the Main Festival Highlight

TIFF has been an official annual calendar event for Tomohon since 2008. One of the most highly anticipated attractions is the Tournament of Flowers: a parade featuring 35 fully flower-decorated vehicles that showcase the full breadth of Tomohon's floricultural wealth.

The festival will also host tourism exhibitions, cultural and artistic performances, alongside a wide range of programmes designed to actively involve local business actors.

Festival Opens Doors for Business Opportunities

For the Ministry of Creative Economy, the impact of TIFF does not stop at increasing tourist arrival numbers. The influx of visitors also creates opportunities for business to business (B2B) matching, commercial trade, and new investment agreements.

In this way, the festival functions as a shared meeting space that connects tourists, business operators, investors and local communities.

"This event does not only boost tourism appeal, it also opens pathways for economic activity for local communities across multiple sectors: from floriculture, handicrafts, culinary, hospitality right through to transportation," she noted.

This multiplier effect makes hosting the festival extremely significant for the regional economy. As tourist volumes rise, all supporting sectors that underpin tourism activity also gain the opportunity to grow alongside it.

Local Heritage as a Creative Economic Strength

The Ministry of Creative Economy continuously encourages all regions to develop their unique local potential and flagship products, in order to build greater added value and market competitiveness.

Tomohon stands as a clear example of how local identity can be cultivated into both a major tourism attraction and an integral part of a functioning creative economy ecosystem.

Through TIFF 2026, Tomohon is not simply showcasing its flowers to the world. This festival also demonstrates how a city's unique identity can become both a tourism powerhouse and a driver of inclusive local community economic growth.