Selat Remis – Small settlement on the West Kalimantan coast
Selat Remis is a small settlement belonging to Teluk Pakedai district within the territory of Kubu Raya regency in West Kalimantan province. The village is located on the western coastline of the Kalimantan macroregion, that is, the Indonesian part of Borneo island. Although settlement-level statistics are not publicly available, the settlement is found in the vicinity of Kubu Raya regency, which forms part of the economy and federal infrastructure of West Kalimantan province. The defining characteristic of the broader region is the intensive water network and river transport, which plays a central role in this part of the Indonesian archipelago.
General overview
Selat Remis is a small settlement in Teluk Pakedai district, which is not considered a widely known destination for tourists in Indonesian tourism. The settlement is part of the administrative organization of Kubu Raya regency, which is located in West Kalimantan province. It is situated in the north-eastern part of the regency, in a rural area distant from the Pontianak administrative center.
West Kalimantan province, to which Selat Remis belongs, is considered one of the country's most characteristically water-rich regions, well described by the "Seribu Sungai" (Thousand Rivers) character. The province's territory covers 147,307 square kilometers, and based on 2020 data, approximately 5,414,390 people lived in the province at a density of roughly 37 people per square kilometer. By the mid-decade, in 2025, the estimated population had already exceeded 5.6 million. Human settlement in the region often occurred along rivers or in areas near waterways, since waterways have traditionally been the primary transportation route to the interior regions. This geographical characteristic is typical of the entire province and its districts – including Teluk Pakedai and the surroundings of Kubu Raya regency.
Teluk Pakedai district belongs directly to the province's coastal areas, and settlements located here are generally closely connected to maritime and river-based economies. Selat Remis is a modest-sized village that occupies a lower tier in the Indonesian rural settlement hierarchy, where citizens are mostly engaged in local production – fishing, small-scale agriculture, forestry. The settlement's infrastructure is developed in a manner characteristic of rural Indonesian villages, with basic transportation roads, local markets, and administrative institutions present.
Real estate and investment
Concrete data on the real estate market at Selat Remis settlement level are not available; however, the real estate market dynamics can be assessed within the context of Kubu Raya regency and the broader West Kalimantan province. Kubu Raya regency is generally considered a region based on oil and gas industry as well as forestry, which determines local real estate demand and prices. Real estate markets within Indonesian provinces are typically driven by transportation infrastructure, industrial activity, and public sector development.
Investment opportunities related to the real estate market are generally considered modest in the context of rural Indonesian areas. Indonesian regulations on foreign property acquisition contain strict restrictions – foreign individuals cannot purchase land, only occupying building rights rentable for a limited period, which typically ranges from 30 to 80 years. In contrast, Kubu Raya regency and its immediate surroundings – as a rural to semi-rural, though not isolated area – are open to local and some regional investors. Real estate prices in those parts of the region where infrastructure and economic activity are more developed (for example, near Pontianak city) are significantly higher than in the case of small villages like Selat Remis. In rural areas, real estate sales are slower, prices are lower, however, long-term development potential – the natural transportation role of major and minor waterways – cannot be ruled out.
For villages such as Selat Remis, local community investments, family businesses, and fishing and forestry enterprises form the main market segments. Large-scale real estate development projects in such small rural settlements are rare, as the commercial and infrastructural attractions that would draw such investments are limited in their return prospects.
Safety and security
Settlement-level security data for Selat Remis are not available from public sources. However, the security situation in West Kalimantan province generally, as well as in Kubu Raya regency, is considered consistent with typical conditions in rural Indonesian regions. Organized crime is less prevalent in Indonesian rural villages; however, robbery, petty theft, and alcohol-related violence are not unknown. In coastal and riverside areas – which include Teluk Pakedai district – a certain level of smuggling activity may occur, particularly in villages closer to maritime transportation routes.
Indonesian public security falls under the supervision of the national and local police (Polri) and military forces. Rural villages such as Selat Remis typically fall under a smaller police station within the organizational district responsible for the district. Resources at these local levels are limited, so maintaining public order also relies on local community self-organization. Tourist visits to small rural villages are customary – however, basic caution is necessary, such as avoiding night-time movement, being watchful of valuables, and respecting local customs. The typical rural Indonesian settlement does not face unique terrorism threats; however, prudence regarding property security (vehicles, personal belongings) is advisable.
Tourist attractions
Named tourist attractions of Selat Remis settlement cannot be identified through available sources. The village is not considered one of the defining destinations of Indonesian tourism. However, the natural and cultural elements of Teluk Pakedai district and Kubu Raya regency, as well as the broader West Kalimantan province, can be described as attractive.
West Kalimantan province may be characterized as the "Thousand Rivers," which alludes to the region's rich water network and natural values. The region contains numerous major rivers, which serve as transportation routes for people, goods, and commodities. The coastal and riverside landscape – to which Selat Remis also belongs – contains unique flora and fauna, including rainforest vegetation and tropical aquatic life. Kalimantan island generally is home to orangutans and other primates, as well as unique birds and reptiles, though observation of these animals is primarily possible within protected forest reserves.
In rural villages such as Selat Remis, tourism may primarily focus on local community life, traditional fishing and wood-processing methods, and riverside transport. The region's boat navigation tradition, as well as the operation of such small villages where local customs remain strongly present, may provide opportunity for cultural observation. However, Indonesian tourism infrastructure in these small villages is limited – hotels, restaurants, or organized tour opportunities are not necessarily available. Travelers wishing to stay in Selat Remis and its surroundings may seek local accommodation providers (guesthouses, homestays) in Teluk Pakedai district or in Kubu Raya regency centers.
Summary
Selat Remis is a small rural settlement in Teluk Pakedai district, within the territory of Kubu Raya regency in West Kalimantan province. The village represents the characteristic water-based economy of the Kalimantan region, where rivers remain the primary transportation and economic routes. The real estate market is modest, public security follows Indonesian rural norms, while tourist infrastructure is minimal. Visitors or those intending to settle here should expect the rawer reality of rural Indonesian life, limited infrastructure, and a basic self-sufficient economy.
