Tubajur – a settlement in Teriak district, Bengkayang regency
Tubajur is one of the villages in Teriak kecamatan (district), which falls under the administrative territory of Bengkayang kabupaten (regency) in Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan) province. The settlement is located on Borneo Island, in the northern part of the island, directly on the state border with Malaysia's Sarawak. Based on coordinates, Tubajur lies near the equator, in the filled areas of the Sulu Sea basin. The regency it belongs to is home to the Dayak ethnic population, and Bengkayang is one of the most conservative and least developed regions of West Kalimantan, having been an independent administrative unit since the early twentieth century, separating from Sambas regency.
General overview
Tubajur is a relatively little-known settlement that does not rank among the main tourist destinations of West Kalimantan tourism. It is part of Teriak kecamatan (district), which comprises Bengkayang regency. Bengkayang regency is a large administrative unit with an area of 5,396.30 square kilometers and a population of approximately 307,823 in 2025, with the vast majority of its population belonging to the Dayak ethnic group. On the regency's northern border lies the Malaysian state of Sarawak directly, which influences the settlements here to a certain extent in terms of infrastructure and supply.
Smaller villages such as Tubajur are typically agriculture-based communities where forestry, rice cultivation, and fishing (where close to waterside) play an important role in the local economy. The area in general remains significantly dependent on the existence of primary forests, and the forests provide one of the main economic resources and foundations for livelihood. No well-known named attractions are known to exist directly near the settlement, but Teriak kecamatan is part of the broader Bengkayang regency, which is rich in Dayak cultural, historical, and ecological heritage.
Real estate and investment
Tubajur's real estate market is underdeveloped, with a structure typical of smaller villages. In such distant, less urbanized settlements, property values are low, infrastructure is limited, and capital flow is minimal. Houses here are typically built from local materials and exhibit traditional Dayak architectural characteristics. Across Bengkayang regency as a whole, the real estate market is highly segmented: infrastructure development delays and the backwardness of road and bridge networks restrict opportunities for value growth.
According to general regulations on Indonesian land transactions, foreign investors can acquire rights through long-term lease (usufruct), as Indonesian land ownership is restricted for non-Indonesian citizens. In the case of such an underdeveloped rural settlement, investment opportunities are severely limited. The local economy is primarily agricultural in nature and resource-extractive (forest), and there are no major tourism or industrial development prospects. Approaches to land purchase or rental should be cautious, and thorough local study is necessary beforehand regarding inheritance rights, community land use customs, and municipal regulations.
Safety and security
Concrete, settlement-level data on Tubajur's public safety is not available. However, Bengkayang regency, and more broadly West Kalimantan province, is a region characterized generally from an Indonesian security standpoint by surprisingly low violent crime at the level of smaller villages, though organized smuggling (particularly related to forestry and plant protection) has historically been a problem in the region near the Sarawak border. Communities here generally maintain close community bonds, and internal order is sanctioned by traditional community rules and Dayak customary law. Such rural small villages can generally be considered safe with respect to personal violence, but travelers should monitor travel advisories issued by Indonesian authorities and should avoid certain politically sensitive areas as well as night travel without secured public roads.
Tourist attractions
Tubajur itself does not have internationally known tourist attractions or major attractions that would draw travelers specifically to it. Smaller Dayak villages, such as Tubajur, may be primarily attractive to those seeking ethno-tourism for anthropological and cultural reasons, but these are typically only accessible if visits are arranged locally, through proper protocol and community permission.
In the broader Bengkayang regency and the Teriak kecamatan area, however, there are Dayak cultural sites, traditional villages, and rainforest-based ecological attractions. Indonesian Borneo, and particularly West Kalimantan province, is known worldwide for its rainforest ecosystem, the preservation of Dayak culture, and its wildlife (orangutans, bearded pigs, and rare bird species). Within Bengkayang regency as a whole, however, due to the underdevelopment of infrastructure and the limitations in accommodation and transportation capacity required for tourism, the area does not lie on the main tourism route. Interested travelers wishing to experience authentic Dayak culture and rainforest ecology typically either take organized expeditions or visit the larger settlements of the broader regency (such as Bengkayang city), from where they can reach smaller villages with local guides and by developing community connections.
Summary
Tubajur is a small Dayak settlement in Teriak kecamatan of Bengkayang regency, located in the northern part of Indonesian Borneo, adjacent to Malaysia. The settlement ranks among the smaller, developing villages where agricultural economy and rainforest-based use are dominant, though infrastructure development remains limited. The real estate market is segmented and underdeveloped, public safety is generally acceptable, and independent tourist attractions are absent. For interested travelers or investors, the settlement represents primarily anthropological and ecological interest, accessed through locally organized and protocol-based visits.
