Tanjung Kunyit – A settlement on the southeastern coastline of Kalimantan
Tanjung Kunyit is a settlement located in the southern region of Kalimantan island, in South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan) province, belonging to Pulau Laut Tanjung Selayar District in Baru Regency. The settlement is situated on the eastern coastline of the island, in close proximity to the Java Sea. Although the settlement is not among the primary destinations of Indonesia's tourism industry, the region represents a developing area that is increasingly opening toward self-sustaining economic development and less organized tourism. Tanjung Kunyit lies in parts of Borneo island that are rich in natural resources and characterized by diverse climatic features.
General overview
Tanjung Kunyit is a small, relatively lesser-known settlement that, according to local administrative organization, forms part of Pulau Laut Tanjung Selayar kecamatan (district). The settlement's name, "Tanjung Kunyit" (kunyit meaning turmeric or yellow), suggests that the area has traditionally been linked to agriculture or complementary sources of local livelihoods. Baru Kabupaten (Regency), to which the settlement belongs, is an administrative unit situated in Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan) province, characterized by still-developing infrastructure and predominantly rural features. Within the given kecamatan (Pulau Laut Tanjung Selayar District), the settlement network is mixed and scattered, caused by the island terrain, tropical forests, and the presence of coastal areas directly adjacent to the ocean. Tanjung Kunyit falls directly under the legal authority of the Republic of Indonesia, as strictly required by the Indonesian administrative system.
Real estate and investment
The real estate market in Tanjung Kunyit settlement and the broader Baru Regency area is still in a developing stage, meaning that purchase and sale transactions often take place on a local, personal basis, and formal property registration in settlements is not yet always comprehensive. It is generally characteristic of the South Kalimantan region that agreements regarding land property acquisition and private land ownership are strongly dependent on local customary law, adat legal order, and essential norms of community tradition. For foreigners, Indonesian law strictly limits the possibility of directly purchasing land ownership. Under the 1960 Indonesian Agrarian Law (Law No. 5 of 1960 on Basic Agrarian Law), foreign nationals cannot acquire ownership rights (hak milik) to Indonesian land; however, long-term lease rights (hak guna usaha, hak pakai, or hak sewa) are partially possible. According to standard procedure, foreign investors can acquire rights through the mediation of an Indonesian company or Indonesian individual, based on long-term agreements with local communities. Given Tanjung Kunyit's proximity to the coast and its closeness to potential fishing or agricultural production, some local or regional private investors may show interest. However, the development of the real estate industry depends on regional road infrastructure expansion, broadening electricity supply, and increasing local administrative capacity, which for Baru Regency are not yet complete.
Safety and security
There are no publicly available data or verifiable documents regarding public safety at the Tanjung Kunyit settlement level. Considering the South Kalimantan region as a whole, to which the settlement belongs, the general public safety level is similar to other parts of rural Indonesia. South Kalimantan does not rank among the highest-risk regions in Indonesian crime statistics; however, like other parts of the island, the backwardness of infrastructure development and occasional minor conflicts or petty larcenies along transportation routes in abandoned or less-supervised settlements do occur. The Indonesian National Police (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia, Polri) maintain presence at the regency level; however, in smaller settlements such as Tanjung Kunyit, direct police supervision is less frequent. Local community self-governance (sistem musyawarah) generally plays an important role in resolving minor disputes and conflicts. For travelers and those intending to change residence, it is advisable to maintain contact with local community leaders and the Indonesian embassy or consulate, and it is recommended to follow the general advice of Indonesian authorities and locals.
Tourist attractions
Within Tanjung Kunyit settlement, there are no renowned, internationally known tourist attractions for which publicly accessible and verifiable information would be available. The settlement's location in Pulau Laut Tanjung Selayar District, a coastal area surrounded by subtropical forest, holds natural potential; however, the level of tourism infrastructure and organized guided tours is extremely low. At the regency level, however, numerous potential points of attraction exist. Worth mentioning among Baru Regency are local fishing operations, mangrove forests, and the inherent beauty of the coastline, though there are no regular or organized tourism services for their exploration. At the broader scale of South Kalimantan region (and approximately 200–250 km to the west) there are several highlighted tourist locations, such as Banjarmasin, the commercial center of the region, where river transportation, local markets, and traditional goods are available. In the immediate surroundings, within the territories of neighboring kecamatan and kabupaten, smaller islands, fishing communities, and natural phenomena can be visited, though reaching them requires self-organized travel and the necessary engagement of local guides and transportation means. The ecotourism potential—represented by forests, marine habitats, and the socio-ecological diversity embodied by local fishing communities—has not yet been adequately explored or developed with infrastructure by Indonesian and international organizations.
Summary
Tanjung Kunyit is a tiny, still-developing settlement located on the coastline of the South Kalimantan region, where infrastructure, public safety, and tourism all follow the general level of the region. Its real estate market operates partly on the basis of local tradition and customary law, which considerably restricts foreign investment. From a tourism perspective, it offers few attractions directly; however, the broader regional context may be of interest to those interested in ecotourism and community tourism. Observation of self-sustaining agriculture, fishing, and local community life can offer more direct familiarity with the settlement and its surroundings for those wishing to gain broader acquaintance with Indonesian rural and island life.
