Two Chinese Tourists Drown in Labuan Bajo After Briefing by Intern, Not Licensed Guide

Police have revealed that two Chinese tourists who died while snorkelling in the waters off Kelor Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, were not accompanied by a licensed professional tour guide. Before entering the sea, the married couple only received a briefing from a student undertaking a Field Work Practice (PKL) programme. The victims have been identified as Guo Xingyou, 29, and Sha Gingyang, 30. Both died while snorkelling in the waters of Kelor Island on Wednesday afternoon, 15 July 2026. ‘At the time of the incident, both victims were not accompanied by a licensed professional tour guide. They only received a briefing from a vocational high school student who was undergoing Field Work Practice,’ said West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang on Thursday, 16 July 2026. Christian stated that the intern and the boat crew allegedly relaxed standard operating procedures for marine tourism safety by failing to provide direct supervision while the two victims were snorkelling. Furthermore, the victims were not provided with life jackets, but only with diving masks and fins. ‘Both victims were also not supervised while they were in the water,’ Christian said. The incident began when the open-deck vessel KM Rinca Story (GT 19), owned by Agus Prawijaya, departed from Marina Waterfront Labuan Bajo Port on 15 July 2026 at around 10.00 Wita. The boat was carrying a number of domestic and international tourists to Kelor Island, a favourite destination for trekking and snorkelling. Upon arrival at the location, the tourists disembarked onto the beach and went trekking before snorkelling. When the two Chinese tourists were in the sea, no boat crew or tour guide was supervising them. ‘It is strongly suspected that both victims were swept away by strong currents from the western side of the island, leading to extreme exhaustion,’ Christian said. Guo Xingyou was found floating in the waters of Kelor Island. Several other tourists attempted to provide assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but his life could not be saved. Meanwhile, the body of Sha Gingyang was found at a depth of 23 metres on the seabed by a joint SAR team.