Bira – a village in Tabukan Tengah district, northern part of Kepulauan Sangihe regency
Bira is a small settlement in Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi) province, Indonesia, within Tabukan Tengah district (kecamatan) of Kepulauan Sangihe regency. Based on its coordinates (3.5505382° N, 125.5603143° E), it is situated in the Sangihe island archipelago, which lies between Celebes and Mindanao in the Philippines, at the boundary of the Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The capital of Kepulauan Sangihe regency is Tahuna. Since available source material contains only regency-level data, the following sections describe the context within this broader administrative unit, where specific information about Bira is not available.
General overview
Bira is a small community within Tabukan Tengah kecamatan, for which independent, detailed statistical sources are not currently publicly available. Based on broader data from Kepulauan Sangihe regency, the area comprises scattered administrative units consisting of tiny islands and remote coastal villages. The regency covers a total of 736.98 km² of land and has a population of approximately 136,025 as of mid-2025. The Sangihe islands are divided into three main clusters: Tatoareng, Sangihe, and Perbatasan, the latter directly bordering Philippine provinces—particularly Davao Occidental—in the maritime border zone. This border location gives the entire region a unique character: the area is culturally and economically influenced by southern Philippine elements. The Sangihe island group is characterized by volcanically formed hills, coastal villages near coral reefs, and a local lifestyle based on traditional fishing and small-scale agriculture. Bira, as one of the villages in Tabukan Tengah district, likely fits into this traditional, small-community framework, though precise local data is not available from published sources.
Real estate and investment
No independent real estate market data specific to Bira is available in the sources consulted, so the following presents the general context applicable at Kepulauan Sangihe regency and broader Sulawesi Utara province level. In the Sangihe island region, the real estate market is typically characterized by low transaction volumes, primarily limited to dealings among local actors, and is considerably less active compared to more developed Indonesian regions such as Bali or major cities in Sulawesi. For foreign investors, it is important to know that under Indonesian law—the 1960 Agrarian Law and current property legislation—foreign nationals cannot acquire traditional freehold (Hak Milik) property rights. Within the available legal frameworks, their options are limited to long-term rental arrangements (Hak Sewa), multi-year use rights (Hak Pakai), or the risky and legally uncertain nominee ownership solutions. In the Tabukan Tengah area, where Bira is located, real estate development is limited, and the area's peripheral location—particularly its proximity to the border zone with the Philippines—may entail special administrative and security considerations that could also affect investment decisions.
Safety and security
No concrete settlement-level crime statistics or public safety data specific to Bira are available in the sources consulted. Regarding the general public safety situation in Kepulauan Sangihe regency and Sulawesi Utara province, the area lies in one of Indonesia's less urbanized, relatively isolated island groups, where everyday crime rates are generally lower compared to major cities, though specific local conditions cannot be determined without reliable, verifiable sources. The border-adjacent location—neighboring the maritime border with the Philippines—may generally entail increased border patrol presence in the region, though this cannot be specifically confirmed for Bira. Travelers and interested parties are advised to monitor information from local Indonesian authorities and the Kemenlu (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for the most current and area-specific public safety updates.
Tourist attractions
Available source material does not mention named tourist attractions within Bira itself, so the following describes general natural and cultural attributes known at Kepulauan Sangihe regency level. The Sangihe island archipelago as a whole is characterized by volcanically originated islands lying at the boundary of the Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean, encompassing diverse marine life, coral reef waters, and fish-rich fishing grounds. The region as a whole can be considered a transit and border zone culturally between Indonesia and the Philippines, representing a distinctive and little-explored ethnic and religious mix. The Tabukan Tengah kecamatan area—to which Bira belongs—may be located in the more interior, topographically varied parts of the island group, though precise, verifiable description is similarly unavailable. Tahuna, the capital of Kepulauan Sangihe regency, serves as the administrative and economic center, where most available services and infrastructure elements are concentrated.
Summary
Bira is a small settlement within Tabukan Tengah district in Kepulauan Sangihe regency, Sulawesi Utara province. Only regency-level information is available from public data, which allows for a picture of the Sangihe island group as a border-adjacent, volcanically characterized, relatively isolated area. The real estate market is limited, tourist infrastructure is underdeveloped, and for foreign interested parties, thorough understanding of legal frameworks is essential. For those planning travel or investment to Bira or the broader Tabukan Tengah area, consultation with local and Indonesian official sources is recommended as part of due diligence.
