Mata – settlement on Buton Island, North Buton Regency
Mata is a small settlement in Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Celebes) Province of Indonesia, located within Kabupaten Buton Utara (North Buton Regency) belonging to Kambowa District (kecamatan). Geographically, it is situated on Buton Island, with coordinates marked at approximately -5.1061 southern latitude and 122.9550 eastern longitude. The capital of Kabupaten Buton Utara is Buranga, and the regency was established on January 2, 2007, on the basis of Law Number 14 of 2007 (Undang-Undang Nomor 14 Tahun 2007). Regarding the village of Mata itself, no detailed independent source material is currently available; therefore, the information presented below focuses primarily on verifiable data at the broader regency level, with clear indication of their scope of validity.
General overview
Mata belongs to Kambowa kecamatan, which is one of the administrative units of North Buton Regency. The regency itself — and within it Kambowa District — is located in the northern part of Buton Island. According to the Indonesian Wikipedia source, Kabupaten Buton Utara is situated on Buton Island, which is the largest island outside the Sulawesi island group and is considered the 130th largest island in the world. This definition simultaneously provides a certain geographic weight and natural context to the region. Kambowa District, to which Mata belongs, is scarcely mentioned in international tourism literature and is not yet considered a developed area with established infrastructure and visitation. The regency as a whole may be described as a region rich in natural resources: according to available sources, the North Buton region features asphalt, petroleum, gold and other mineral resources, as well as valuable forest products — teak, dammar resin and rattan — additionally, goods that can be extracted from the sea and fertile plantation areas also characterize the landscape. All these characteristics apply more broadly to the regency as a whole; detailed independent data specific to Mata village are not available.
Real estate and investment
Direct, settlement-level data on the real estate market of Mata and Kambowa District are not available. In the broader context of Kabupaten Buton Utara, it can be stated that the area is rich in natural resources, which may be relevant from the perspective of future investment interest — particularly in the mining, forestry and agricultural sectors. At the same time, the region's infrastructure development likely lags behind the level of Indonesian tourism hubs (such as Bali or Lombok), which also affects real estate market liquidity and returns on real estate investments. Generally speaking, in Indonesia, real estate acquisition by foreign citizens is regulated: full ownership rights (Hak Milik) cannot be acquired by foreigners, but in certain forms — such as long-term lease (Hak Sewa) or building rights (Hak Pakai) — real estate use is possible. Prior to any concrete investment decision, the involvement of a local legal expert is strongly recommended, particularly in poorly documented areas such as Kambowa District.
Safety and security
Independent statistics or assessments regarding public security for Mata and Kambowa District are not available in publicly accessible sources. Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Celebes) Province is generally not among the regions within Indonesia classified as areas of heightened security risk, and the broader region ranks among the less tension-prone areas of the island nation. Kabupaten Buton Utara is a relatively small-population, rural regency where lifestyle is primarily tied to agriculture and local communities. Caution and respect for local customs — as in other parts of Indonesia — are fundamental expectations here, and it is advisable to obtain information about the current situation before travel with the help of relevant consular advisories. Source-based data regarding serious public security incidents in this area are not available.
Tourist attractions
Named tourist attractions associated with the village of Mata are not included in the available source material. Regarding Kabupaten Buton Utara Regency as a whole, the Wikipedia source mentions the richness of natural resources — minerals, teak forests, coastal areas — which in themselves paint a kind of natural landscape picture of the island. Buton Island in Southeast Celebes is a region noteworthy for its unique natural and cultural heritage, but specific attractions directly linked to Mata or Kambowa District cannot be identified from available sources. Buranga, the capital of Kabupaten Buton Utara, is the nearest administrative center, where local infrastructure may be somewhat more developed — but its distance and tourism offerings cannot be precisely indicated due to lack of sources. Those visiting Kambowa District and Mata should primarily expect a quiet, nature-oriented rural environment, rather than developed tourism.
Summary
Mata is a small, poorly documented settlement in Sulawesi Tenggara Province of Indonesia, located within Kabupaten Buton Utara Regency and belonging to Kambowa District. The regency as a whole is rich in natural resources — minerals, valuable timber, coastal areas — and became an independent administrative unit in 2007. Detailed, reliable source-based information about Mata itself is not currently available; for those interested, on-site inquiries and contact with local authorities are recommended for obtaining the most accurate and current data.
