Masaloka – island settlement in Bombana Regency, Kep. Masaloka Raya District
Masaloka is an Indonesian settlement located in Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi) province, Bombana Regency, in Kep. Masaloka Raya Kecamatan. Based on its coordinates (approximately 4.83° south latitude and 122.13° east longitude), it forms part of the island archipelago situated between the Banda Sea and the Flores Sea. The "Kep." prefix in the kecamatan name refers to the Indonesian word "Kepulauan" (islands), suggesting that the district itself is an administrative unit composed of islands. The capital of Sulawesi Tenggara Province is Kendari, and the province attained independent administrative status in 1964 under Government Regulation No. 2/1964 and Law No. 13/1964.
General overview
Masaloka belongs to Kep. Masaloka Raya Kecamatan, whose name clearly indicates its character as an island group. The kecamatan itself, as part of Bombana Regency, falls administratively under Sulawesi Tenggara Province. Bombana Regency extends across the southeastern portion of the Celebes Peninsula and its associated smaller islands, and is a relatively young administrative unit that separated in recent decades from the formerly unified Buton region. According to data from the first half of 2025 regarding the province as a whole, Sulawesi Tenggara has a population of approximately 2.85 million people, which represents relatively low population density relative to the province's size. Specific demographic or territorial data pertaining to Masaloka is not currently available from public sources. Due to the inter-island location of Kep. Masaloka Raya District, the local livelihood characteristically may be built on fishing, exploitation of marine resources, and small-scale agriculture — although this latter claim reflects the general context of similar South Celebes island communities and is not a fact exclusively verified for Masaloka.
Real estate and investment
Independent, locally-specific real estate market data for Masaloka is not publicly available. The real estate market in Bombana Regency and Sulawesi Tenggara Province generally is less developed and less liquid compared to the Indonesian average, which is partly linked to relatively low population density and the economy's concentration on raw material extraction (particularly nickel and other mineral resources) — the latter being especially relevant for Bombana Regency. In Indonesia, foreign nationals' opportunities to acquire real estate are limited under general rules: foreigners cannot acquire full property rights (Hak Milik), but may access property through long-term use rights (Hak Pakai) or rental arrangements. In a remote, island-located area such as Masaloka and its surrounding region, the level of infrastructure and service development directly influences the value of properties and the prospects for return on potential investments. Based on all this, the real estate market in the broader Bombana Regency context is more determined by local, domestic demand rather than serving as a tourist or foreign investment destination.
Safety and security
Public security-specific statistics or detailed information pertaining to Masaloka or directly to Kep. Masaloka Raya District is not available in the reviewed sources. Sulawesi Tenggara Province as a whole is generally classified among stably administered Indonesian regions, not characterized by sustained political conflicts or significant internal tensions. In island, small-community areas such as Kep. Masaloka Raya District, public safety is typically regulated according to the simpler social structure and local community norms; however, this is a general regional observation and does not substitute for concrete site-specific data. For travelers, it is generally recommended to obtain information about current conditions from local authorities and reliable sources, particularly regarding remote, less tourism-frequented island areas.
Tourist attractions
Specific tourist attractions that can be linked to Masaloka or Kep. Masaloka Raya District are not contained in the available source material, and therefore cannot be listed in this article in order to preserve factual accuracy. As a general geographic context, it can be stated that island areas of Sulawesi Tenggara Province in many cases offer natural advantages — including coral reefs, clear-water beaches, and diving sites suitable for viewing local marine biodiversity — which are characteristic of similar island groups along the Banda Sea. Bombana Regency itself possesses natural attractions, though detailed description of these would likewise require verified sources at the regency level. Those visiting the region would be well advised to obtain information about local transportation and tourism options starting from Bombana Regency's administrative center and from the province's capital, Kendari, since Masaloka's island location likely makes water transport the primary means of access.
Summary
Masaloka is an island-type Indonesian settlement located in Sulawesi Tenggara Province, Bombana Regency, in Kep. Masaloka Raya Kecamatan, for which detailed, settlement-level public data sources are currently limited in availability. The broader province, Sulawesi Tenggara, counted approximately 2.85 million people in the first half of 2025, and this region, which became independent in 1964, operates with Kendari as its capital. Based on the site's accessibility, its inter-island location, and Bombana Regency's economic profile, Masaloka and its surrounding area are likely to be of primary relevance to those interested in local lifestyles and the natural environment, rather than serving as a developed tourism destination with established infrastructure.
