Tabona – a settlement in North Maluku province subordinate to Ternate city
Tabona is a settlement belonging to the Kota Ternate Selatan district within Ternate city, which is located in North Maluku province in Indonesia's Moluccas. The settlement is situated on Ternate island, which lies in the western part of the Indian Ocean, in a region rich with history and geographical features. Ternate city had approximately 216,175 inhabitants in 2025 and functioned for a long time as the de facto administrative center of North Maluku before transferring this role to Sofifi in 2010, a settlement in the neighboring Tidore Kepulauan region.
General overview
Tabona is one of the settlements in the Kota Ternate Selatan kecamatan (district), situated within the Moluccas island group, which constitutes the heartland of Indonesia. The settlement forms part of the densely built-up southern area of Ternate city, where settlement-level data is limited, though city-level characteristics provide a meaningful picture of the communities here. Ternate city was one of the most important commercial and administrative centers of the Indonesian Archipelago for several decades, gaining historical significance in the pre- and post-colonial periods of the country. The city lies beneath the Gamalama volcano, which is a notable geographical feature of the region and determines the geological and climatological conditions of the entire area.
Tabona is located in a city district that is densely populated and where traditional rural characteristics are less pronounced due to the marked presence of urbanization. The settlement is part of Ternate city's southern administrative zone, which is easily accessible from the central part of the city. According to the Indonesian administrative system, Tabona as a settlement (at the kelurahan or desa level community unit) shares the institutional and public service infrastructure of the larger Ternate city. The region is characterized by intensive economic and commercial activity, as well as community and economic engagement determined by the ocean-adjacent conditions surrounding the city.
Real estate and investment
Settlement-level data on Tabona's real estate market is not available; however, market dynamics can be interpreted at the level of Ternate city. As one of North Maluku's major economic and administrative centers, Ternate's real estate market is typically more active than in most rural regions. Over recent decades, property values in the city have generally followed the typical growth trends of Indonesian cities, though development has been more moderate compared to major cities like Jakarta and Surabaya. In the real estate market, purchasing power per capita and long-term investment inclination follow Indonesian averages and fluctuate depending on the structure of the local economy.
For foreigners, property purchases in Indonesia are subject to strict legal regulations: according to established practice, foreign nationals cannot be full owners of land plots; however, they can acquire long-term lease rights (hak pakai), typically for a 25-year period, which can be extended once for another 25 years. In the Ternate region and generally in North Maluku province, real estate prices are at more moderate levels compared to major Javanese cities, which presents potential opportunities for small to medium-sized and local investors. The region's infrastructure development ambitions and improving transportation connections suggest, from a long-term perspective, market stabilization and possible gradual growth.
The North Maluku region's economy has been traditionally built on fishing, coconut production, and other agricultural activities, though at the Ternate city level, the retail and service sectors also play significant roles. The success of real estate investments thus depends heavily on the evolution of local economic conditions and the direction of state and public sector investments linked to the city's infrastructure development. As is typical for Indonesia, in the Maluku region real estate transactions require thorough legal review, particularly regarding historical ownership relations and administrative regulations.
Safety and security
Specific information on Tabona's settlement-level security data is not available, so the assessment must necessarily rely on general public safety conditions in North Maluku province and Ternate city. Indonesia's eastern regions – including the Moluccas archipelago – are traditionally considered socio-politically more variable areas compared to the country's major cities; however, Ternate city is not directly classified as a prominent security risk zone in Indonesian transportation or tourism advisories.
In recent decades, Ternate city has operated with a relatively stabilized administrative and security situation, partly due to its functioning as a de facto provincial government center for years, which consequently strengthened institutional presence and capacity. Ternate city, as a larger urban organization, faces general Indonesian urban security challenges – such as conventional street-level petty offenses, sporadic fights in entertainment areas, or minor to moderate theft – though these do not typically constitute systematic problems affecting the city as a whole. No particularly serious public safety threats are evident in the public sphere and local authority presence in Ternate city or the subordinate settlement of Tabona.
As in other regional centers in Indonesia, it is advisable to follow general travel precautions: avoid walking alone at night, handle valuable personal items with care, and maintain caution toward unfamiliar persons. However, Indonesian authorities have strengthened security presence protecting tourists and business people in recent years, particularly in commercial centers and hotel areas.
Tourist attractions
Tabona as a settlement does not inherently possess internationally recognized tourist attractions specific to the settlement itself; however, as part of Ternate city, numerous historical and natural sites are accessible within relatively short distances from the settlement. The Gamalama volcano, which directly surrounds Ternate city, is one of the most prominent geographical and tourist elements in the region. This active volcano is significant not only as a symbol of the area but also as a natural phenomenon with strong influence on the region's climate and economy, and serves as an attractive climbing and botanical observation point for many travelers.
Ternate city was historically the most important center of the Indonesian Archipelago's spice trade during the Ottoman period and European colonial era. The city preserves several historical forts and temples, which are structures bearing witness to that era. Although specific named tourist attractions cannot be identified for Tabona settlement itself, the settlement's proximity to Ternate city's historical and administrative areas means that interested travelers can easily access the cultural and historical attractions offered by the city. The city's market zones, the daily life of local communities, and the views of the ocean from Ternate's coastlines also provide experiences that illustrate authentic, regional life in the Indonesian Archipelago.
North Maluku province is connected to marine resources, and fishing activities as well as related small-scale maritime tourism (such as fishing trips, snorkeling, or observation of traditional fishing methods) are activities that offer interesting and educationally valuable experiences. The region's coastal location additionally provides opportunities for nature-based relaxation and learning about local island culture.
Summary
Tabona as a settlement is a small community belonging to Ternate city's Kota Ternate Selatan district, situated in a historically significant region of the Indonesian Archipelago. Settlement-specific, international-level data on Tabona is available in limited quantities; however, the broader Ternate city, which has a population of several hundred thousand, provides a more favorable picture of the region's character, economy, and opportunities. The real estate market shows moderate activity, public safety follows the general standards of the region, and from a tourism perspective, the settlement primarily serves as a gateway to the city's historical and natural offerings rather than as an independent attraction.
