Joubela – a coastal settlement in the southern district of Morotai Island
Joubela is a small Indonesian settlement that belongs to the Morotai Selatan (South Morotai) district and administratively forms part of Kabupaten Pulau Morotai (Pulau Morotai Regency). This regency falls under the authority of North Maluku (Maluku Utara) Province and is situated within the broader Moluccas (Maluku) macroregion. Based on settlement coordinates (2.06° N, 128.35° E), Joubela is located in the southern part of Morotai Island. Since publicly available source material specific to the settlement level for Joubela is not available, the following account relies primarily on verified data at the regency level and broader geographical context, with this distinction clearly indicated throughout.
General overview
Joubela belongs to the Morotai Selatan kecamatan (district), which is located in the southern third of Morotai Island. According to available regency-level data, virtually all villages on Morotai Island are coastal settlements, which is likely true for Joubela as well, given its location. The total population of Kabupaten Pulau Morotai at the time of the 2020 census was 74,436 people, with an official estimate for mid-2023 indicating 80,566 people. In the southern part of the island – where Joubela is located – local communities typically speak the Galela language, while the northern two-thirds predominantly uses the Tobalo language. The island's main settlement and administrative center is Daruba, which lies on the southern coast and serves as the hub for regency-level infrastructure and services. Based on regency-level data, Morotai is a forested island with varied topography, belonging to Indonesia's Halmahera island group and numbered among the country's northernmost islands. An asphalt road starting from Daruba connects villages along the eastern coast, extending as far as the city of Berebere, which is located 68 km from Daruba. No verified source records Joubela as having an identifiable tourism profile or distinct economic character.
Real estate and investment
No independent real estate market data specific to Joubela is available. Within the broader context of Kabupaten Pulau Morotai, it can be noted that the regency is a relatively young administrative unit whose economy and infrastructure remain in a development phase. The island's total population grew from 52,860 in 2010 to 74,436 by 2020, representing nearly 41 percent growth over a decade – this demographic dynamic is generally accompanied by increased real estate market activity in the region. Within the generally applicable framework of Indonesian land ownership regulations, foreign nationals cannot acquire direct land ownership in Indonesia (Hak Milik), though long-term leasehold arrangements (Hak Sewa, Hak Pakai) are available. In small, isolated island communities, real estate transactions typically occur within local customary and adat law frameworks, knowledge of which is essential before any investment decision. No reliable, publicly available data on specific Morotai or Joubela real estate prices and investment opportunities could be identified.
Safety and security
No independent public safety statistics or police reports specific to Joubela are publicly available, so settlement-level statements cannot be made. Generally speaking, rural smaller communities in North Maluku Province – including villages on Morotai Island – are characteristically low-density areas with strong community ties, where everyday safety is largely governed by local community norms. For the most current and authoritative information regarding any security incidents occurring in the province or Kabupaten Pulau Morotai, as well as the general public safety situation, Indonesian authorities and travelers' own governments' foreign affairs advisories are the appropriate sources. It is recommended to obtain up-to-date information about the area before any visit.
Tourist attractions
No verified source records a named tourist attraction directly associated with Joubela. However, for Kabupaten Pulau Morotai as a whole, it is known that the island possesses unique historical and natural assets. The historical legacy connected to World War II is particularly notable: the island was the location of Teruo Nakamura, the last known Japanese holdout soldier, who surrendered in 1974 – nearly 30 years after the war's end. This event makes Morotai a site of particular historical significance. Daruba, the regency's administrative seat, is located on the island's southern coast and serves as the nearest administrative and service center for Joubela as well. The Leo Wattimena Airport, located within the regency's territory, provides air connections between the island and the outside world. Morotai's natural assets – forested interior areas, coral reefs, and inter-island waters – hold appeal for nature enthusiasts and divers within the broader region, though specific information about their accessibility from Joubela cannot be provided.
Summary
Joubela is a small coastal community in the southern part of Morotai Island, in Morotai Selatan District, within Kabupaten Pulau Morotai, in North Maluku Province. The settlement is thus far scarcely documented with independent data; its characteristics fit within the general profile of the regency: forested, island environment, maritime livelihood, developing infrastructure, and as part of an island region with distinctive World War II historical significance. Before planning a visit or investment to this location, it would be advisable to conduct local research, as publicly available information at this level remains limited.
