Oi Bura – a small Sumbawan settlement in Tambora district, within Kabupaten Bima
Oi Bura is a small Indonesian settlement located in the eastern part of Sumbawa island, belonging to the Kecamatan Tambora administrative district. Administratively, it forms part of Kabupaten Bima, one of the regencies of Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara) province. In macroregional classification, it is grouped within the region of Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Based on its coordinates (-8.1886923, 117.8663075), Oi Bura is situated in the eastern, hilly and mountainous inland areas of Sumbawa island, in the vicinity of the Tambora peninsula.
General overview
No independent, settlement-level statistical sources are available for Oi Bura, so the broader administrative context provides guidance for characterizing the place. The settlement belongs to Kecamatan Tambora, which is home to one of Sumbawa island's most well-known natural and historical heritage sites, the Tambora volcano, at the foot of which the district unfolds. Tambora district is a relatively sparsely inhabited region interspersed with agricultural and forested areas. The broader Kabupaten Bima—which is distinct from the neighboring Kota Bima, which functions as a separate administrative unit—is a defining territorial unit of eastern Sumbawa. According to data for Kota Bima, approximately 163,824 people lived in the city in mid-2024, with a population density of roughly 694 people/km²; this urban figure is informative for the general demographic picture of the region, but cannot be directly applied to Oi Bura. The inhabitants of the area typically belong to the Mbojo ethnic group, locally also referred to as Dana Mbojo in the Bima region. Agriculture—primarily rice cultivation and small-scale livestock farming—forms the foundation of livelihood in similar small villages within the region.
Real estate and investment
No specific real estate market data or price statistics are available for Oi Bura; therefore, the following reflects the general real estate market context of Kabupaten Bima and Nusa Tenggara Barat province. On the eastern islands of the province, particularly in smaller, rural settlements, the real estate market is characteristically illiquid, transactions are infrequent, and prices are significantly lower than in the more developed tourist areas of Bali or Lombok. From an investment perspective, Tambora district primarily represents the market for agricultural land and small-scale village properties. For foreign nationals, it is important to know that under Indonesia's general property regulations, foreign citizens cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over real estate; long-term leasing (Hak Sewa) or other legal structures are available, for which the involvement of a local legal expert is essential. Infrastructure development and improved accessibility in Kabupaten Bima may have long-term effects on property values, but villages in smaller, inland areas—such as Oi Bura—currently fall outside the scope of significant investor interest.
Safety and security
No specific public safety data or crime statistics are available for Oi Bura. Generally speaking, the rural, smaller settlements of Nusa Tenggara Barat province—including villages in Kecamatan Tambora—typically constitute peaceful countryside environments held together by strong community bonds, where serious crimes are rare. In the larger cities of the province, including the Bima region, minor community tensions may occasionally occur and are reported from time to time; however, these typically do not affect remote, smaller villages. Travelers and those considering property acquisition—as anywhere in Indonesia—are advised to familiarize themselves with local conditions and establish contact with the local community before beginning their stay.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions for Oi Bura itself are listed in available sources; therefore, the following presents verifiable natural and cultural features of the broader Kecamatan Tambora and Kabupaten Bima region. The most significant natural phenomenon in Tambora district is the Tambora volcano itself, which with its 1815 eruption produced one of the largest volcanic events in recorded human history, and whose effects caused global climate change. The volcano and its crater lake constitute the defining landscape element of the district and are attracting growing interest from nature enthusiasts. The cultural heritage characteristic of the Bima region as a whole includes Mbojo traditions and the history of the local sultanate, whose remnants can be found throughout the broader Bima area. Coastal areas and the island's natural features also represent points of interest in the region, although tourist infrastructure development lags behind that of Lombok or Bali. To access Oi Bura, one must travel to Sumbawa island, which is reachable from Lombok by ferry or by air.
Summary
Oi Bura is a small, rural settlement in the eastern part of Sumbawa island, in Kecamatan Tambora, within Kabupaten Bima in Nusa Tenggara Barat province. No independent, settlement-level statistical or tourist source data are available, so the place is primarily understandable within the context of Tambora district and the broader Bima region. The district's natural heritage is dominantly defined by the Tambora volcano, while the region's economy and real estate market typically reflect small-scale, village-level conditions. For those seeking Indonesia's less developed, more authentic landscapes, the Tambora area offers distinctive natural and cultural characteristics; however, without significant infrastructural development and detailed on-site familiarization, the area remains difficult to access and difficult to understand.
