Numana – small settlement in the southern part of the Wakatobi archipelago
Numana is an Indonesian village located in Wakatobi Regency, which belongs to South East Sulawesi province (Sulawesi Tenggara), and is administratively assigned to Wangi Wangi Selatan (South Wangi Wangi) District. According to its geographic coordinates (−5.35° southern latitude, 123.56° eastern longitude), it is situated on an archipelago belonging to the southeastern portion of Sulawesi Island. The capital of South East Sulawesi province is Kendari, and the province acquired its autonomous status based on Perpu No. 2 of 1964 and Law No. 13 of 1964. The total population of the province in the first half of 2025 was approximately 2,848,747. In the case of Numana, independent settlement-level administrative or population data do not appear in available sources, therefore the information presented below is drawn from available knowledge at the broader regency and provincial level, with clear indication of this framing.
General overview
Numana belongs to Wangi Wangi Selatan subdistrict, which is part of Wakatobi Regency located on Wangi-Wangi Island. The name Wakatobi itself is an acronym that encompasses the region's four main islands: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko. This island group is one of Indonesia's eastern region's most recognized marine areas, distinguished primarily by the richness of its coral reefs and underwater biodiversity. Wakatobi Regency is a relatively young administrative unit that separated from the former Buton Regency. Local communities traditionally engage in fishing and maritime farming, a way of life characteristic of the entire archipelago. Numana itself does not appear in widely referenced tourism or demographic sources, therefore reliable specific data regarding the settlement's size, population, or institutions cannot be provided; the settlement is likely a smaller community of local significance in the southern Wangi-Wangi area.
Real estate and investment
Settlement-level real estate market data for Numana are not found in available sources. At the broader Wakatobi Regency level, however, it can be said that the region has increasingly attracted the attention of domestic and foreign investors over the past decade, primarily through ecotourism development and accommodation and service facilities linked to diving. For South East Sulawesi province as a whole, it is characteristic that the level of economic development and infrastructure are still in development, which typically keeps real estate prices at lower levels compared to Java or Bali conditions, while at the same time investment returns may be realized over a longer term. Under the general framework of Indonesian land ownership regulations, foreign nationals cannot acquire direct land ownership (Hak Milik) in Indonesia, but can only participate in the real estate market through certain, time-limited property rights (such as Hak Pakai, or usage rights), or through Indonesian legal entities. This general regulatory framework applies throughout the country, and is therefore binding in the case of Numana and Wakatobi Regency as well. It is advisable to involve a local legal expert before making an investment decision.
Safety and security
No independent, reliable statistics or analysis regarding public safety in Numana are available in accessible sources. South East Sulawesi province in general is not among Indonesia's regions known for regular security incidents; the island group of Wakatobi Regency is traditionally a quiet area consisting of fishing and small communities, where crime patterns characteristic of major cities are less prevalent. However, it is important to emphasize that this assessment is based on a general impression of the broader region and does not substitute for up-to-date security assessment from local authorities or reliable travel information sources (such as the foreign affairs agencies of the country in question). When planning travel or relocation, it is advisable to also examine the most current official sources.
Tourist attractions
Numana's own named tourist attractions do not appear in available sources. The broader Wakatobi Regency, however, is one of Indonesia's most recognized marine nature conservation areas: Wakatobi National Park (Taman Nasional Wakatobi) contains one of the world's richest coral reef systems and is recognized as an international diving destination. On Wangi-Wangi Island, to which Wangi Wangi Selatan District and thus Numana are also connected, the city of Wangi-Wangi is located, which serves as the administrative and commercial center of the region, where ferry services and airport connections ensure accessibility. The waters surrounding the island are attractive for diving and snorkeling, and the culture of the local Bajo (Bajau) maritime nomadic communities may also be of anthropological and cultural interest. It is important to note that these characteristics apply to Wakatobi Regency and Wangi-Wangi Island as a whole; reliable data regarding Numana's specific tourism infrastructure or unique attractions are not available.
Summary
Numana is a small, poorly documented settlement in Indonesia's South East Sulawesi province, in Wangi Wangi Selatan District of Wakatobi Regency. In the absence of independent settlement-level data, only an objective picture of the village can be provided within the framework of the broader region: the natural endowments of the Wakatobi archipelago, its marine biodiversity, and growing interest in ecotourism development characterize the environment of which Numana is a part. For those interested in real estate or tourism purposes, on-site orientation and reliance on current local sources are essential.
