Bali’s neighboring tourist hub of Labuan Bajo is facing a pointed test of its safety credibility, as police investigate 14 witnesses and the region’s police chief issues an unusually blunt warning about operational negligence in the deaths of two Chinese tourists who drowned while snorkeling off Pulau Kelor.
Investigators from the Law Enforcement Unit (Gakkum) of West Manggarai Police’s Water and Air Police Unit (Satpolairud) have questioned 14 witnesses in the case involving Guo Xingyou, 29, and Sha Gingyang, 30, the married couple who drowned while snorkeling near Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
A Wide-Ranging Investigation
“The Satpolairud Law Enforcement Unit has questioned 14 witnesses in a marathon series of interviews. This has included the boat captain and crew regarding operational procedures, the shipping agent regarding the manifest, the boat owner, the travel agent, and relevant regulators,” said Iptu Leonardo Marpaung, Head of West Manggarai Police’s Satpolairud, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Investigators have also sought statements from the Head of the Tourism Office and a representative from West Manggarai’s Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP), examining whether the vessel involved held proper operating permits.
The Legal Basis for the Case
Leonardo explained the legal proceedings stem from suspected operational negligence by the tour boat that led to the two tourists’ deaths. The investigation centers on suspected violations of Article 474 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP), relating to negligence resulting in the loss of another person’s life.
A Police Chief’s Blunt Warning
West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang delivered an unusually direct statement, making clear that authorities will not tolerate operational negligence that puts lives at risk.
“I want to be clear: there can be no compromise when it comes to human life. We are working to build Labuan Bajo’s image as a super-priority tourism destination that is safe, comfortable, and world-class. This incident has tarnished that effort due to a very basic failure in safety procedures,” Christian said.
Background: A Honeymoon Cut Short
As previously reported, the two Chinese tourists, Guo Xingyou and Sha Gingyang, lost their lives in the waters off Pulau Kelor, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT, after drowning while snorkeling.
Fathur Rahman, Head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) and SAR Mission Coordinator, said the two tourists drowned after being struck by high waves while snorkeling. “Both Chinese victims were snorkeling in the waters off Pulau Kelor. Unfortunately, high waves struck them and they drowned,” Fathur said in a statement on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Why the Police Chief’s Comments Matter Beyond This Case
Christian’s statement carries weight beyond the immediate investigation. Labuan Bajo has been positioned by the Indonesian government as one of the country’s flagship “super-priority” tourism destinations, alongside Bali itself, an ambition that depends heavily on international perception of safety and professionalism. A public acknowledgment from the region’s top police official that “very basic” safety failures contributed to two deaths is a notable departure from the more measured, procedural language typically used in ongoing investigations, signaling that authorities view this case as a test of the destination’s broader credibility, not merely an isolated tragedy.
For travelers weighing a Labuan Bajo or Komodo National Park excursion, the scope of this investigation, spanning boat crew, ownership, travel agencies, and government permitting bodies, offers some reassurance that the case is being treated with genuine seriousness rather than quietly settled. At the same time, it underscores a broader point worth keeping in mind: verifying that a tour operator holds proper licensing, and that basic safety equipment and supervision are actually provided, remains squarely the traveler’s own responsibility, regardless of how a destination markets itself.
