Tresno Seery, director of Silolona Sojourns, speaks to Globetrender about family legacy, boat building and the future of Indonesian tourism. Jenny Southan reports

Silolona Sojourns is known for its exquisite hand-built phinisi yachts that journey through Indonesia’s most remote archipelagos. Founded by the late Patti Seery (pictured below) – and American entrepreneur and rare textile enthusiast – the company has become synonymous with cultural immersion, craftsmanship and deep respect for local communities. Today, her son Tresno (pictured) continues to build her vision.

Your family took a formative voyage years ago that eventually inspired your mother to build her own boats. Can you tell me what happened?

We were travelling through Eastern Indonesia and Papua on a textile and art-collecting expedition with a group of museum collectors from the US. Unfortunately, the boat we were meant to take never arrived. My mom had to improvise on the spot – we ended up taking longboats upriver for nearly a full day just to reach a road and eventually get to an airport.

It was a true test of leadership on her part, and she handled it incredibly well. But afterwards she decided: We should build our own boats – ones we can trust, and ones that reflect how we want to travel. Ultimately, she wanted to share the beauty of Indonesia with others in a way that was respectful, safe and meaningful.

I was about six years old at the time, but I remember it clearly. Those kinds of trips were my childhood – being taken to remote corners of Indonesia every summer.

You’ve lived all over the world. Can you share a bit about your background?

I was born in Indonesia, but my family moved to Chicago when I was in first grade. I grew up in the States, studied in Arizona, then moved to Maine before eventually returning to Indonesia at my mother’s request to help grow Silolona Sojourns. That’s when I became more involved in boat design and engineering, and later led the creation of Si Datu Bua.

Your mother is clearly an extraordinary figure. What did you learn from her about doing business in Indonesia?

The biggest lesson was: How is this beneficial for everyone?

My mother worked deeply in textiles and traditional arts, while my focus is boat design, but the principle is the same. Indonesians are incredibly open, collaborative people. If you show respect and genuine interest, the possibilities are endless.

One of the most rewarding relationships in my life is with Nasir (pictured below), our master boatbuilder. I know his whole family. We improve each other’s work constantly. That spirit of collaboration – and the joy that comes with it – is something my mother modelled every day.

Silolona Sojourns is known for its authentic relationships with local communities. How do you make sure visits are conducted responsibly?

It’s a delicate balance, and we don’t take it lightly. We always conduct survey trips beforehand, speaking directly with village leaders about what they’re comfortable sharing.

The goal is for communities to benefit in a positive, non-exploitative way. Many villages have incredible traditional crafts – weaving, woodcarving, musical instruments – and if visitors appreciate and support them, it gives those traditions value. It encourages the younger generation to learn and keep them alive.

Responsible tourism, at its best, helps sustain culture rather than dilute it.

Beyond textiles, what other arts and crafts might travellers encounter on your journeys?

There’s a lot of beautiful woodworking, traditional art and painting, plus handmade reed instruments and other objects you’d never see outside the village. Every region has its own creative identity, and that’s one of the joys of travelling across so many islands.

How are Indonesia’s reefs and marine ecosystems faring? Have you noticed the effects of climate change?

We’re lucky in Indonesia – the deep oceans and strong currents keep much of the reef system healthy, and we see an incredible range of marine life. But there are still challenges, especially marine plastics.

We do beach clean-ups when we can and work with conservation partners to reduce human impact. Overall, the reefs we explore are in good condition, and our focus is making sure they stay that way for the future.

What does success look like for you and Sarah as you lead the next chapter of Silolona Sojourns?

Honestly, success is seeing our crew, partners and communities thrive. We want to build a family here – not just a business.

Growth for growth’s sake doesn’t interest us. We’d rather grow responsibly and maintain the soul of what we’ve built. We’ve discussed adding a third boat for years, but timing and intention matter. We’re very happy with what we have, and we don’t want to spoil that by expanding too quickly.

As someone deeply embedded in the region, what do you think the future of Indonesian tourism looks like?

For the past 20 years, tourism has been incredibly Bali-centric. But we’re finally seeing more interest in the east – places like Flores, Maluku and Raja Ampat.

My hope is that this growth is managed responsibly. Eastern Indonesia has so much to offer, but it’s fragile. Travelling by boat, in my opinion, remains the least intrusive way to explore these regions.

People are definitely beginning to go further east, and I think that’s where the future lies – as long as we do it thoughtfully.

Cookson Adventures can organise a seven-night charter on Silolona from £109,284 based on ten guests sharing and on Si Datu Bua from £70,156 based on six guests sharing. Cookson Adventures can offer bespoke itinerary planning,  an onboard media team, marine biologists, specialist guides and private internal flights. For clients looking to explore inland, there are opportunities to incorporate helicopter adventures and private mobile camps into an itinerary.