Travel Agent and Boat Owner Compensate Families of Two Chinese Tourists Who Died in Labuan Bajo

The travel agent and boat owner have finally agreed to pay compensation over the deaths of two Chinese tourists in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). They agreed to pay following mediation held in Labuan Bajo on Tuesday (28 July 2026).

The compensation was paid by PT Indomuka Travel Indonesia as the travel agent and the owner of the open deck boat Rinca Story. It was paid to the victims’ families involved in the mediation, which was facilitated by the Marine and Air Police Unit (Satpolairud) of the West Manggarai Police.

“It is true, an agreement has been reached whereby they (the travel agent and boat owner) pay compensation to the victims’ families,” said the Head of Satpolairud at West Manggarai Police, Inspector Leonardo Marpaung, on Tuesday (28 July 2026).

However, Leonardo did not disclose the amount of compensation paid by the travel agent and boat owner to the families of the two Chinese tourists. He said a full report on the mediation was being prepared by investigators from the Law Enforcement Unit of Satpolairud at West Manggarai Police.

Budi Widjaja, a volunteer liaison for the Chinese Consulate in Bali, said the travel agent and boat owner were paying the compensation in instalments. Budi declined to reveal the value of the compensation, saying it was in line with the families’ demands.

“An agreement has been reached; the families’ demands have been met through payment in instalments,” Budi said.

The families of the two tourists had demanded compensation to cover hospital costs, the repatriation of the bodies and cremation. Mediation began on 24 July 2026, with five family members of the victims remaining in Labuan Bajo to handle the compensation process.

As previously reported, the two Chinese tourists lost their lives in the waters off Kelor Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT. The tourists were a man named Guo Xingyou and a woman named Sha Gingyang. Both died from drowning while snorkelling.

Fathur Rahman, Head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office and SAR Mission Coordinator, said the two tourists drowned after being struck by high waves while snorkelling.

“The two Chinese nationals were snorkelling in the waters off Kelor Island. Tragically, high waves struck the two victims and they drowned,” Fathur said in a statement on Wednesday (15 July 2026).