Marente – small settlement on the western coast of Sumbawa, in the Alas district
Marente is an Indonesian settlement located on the western side of Sumbawa island, within the Kecamatan Alas administrative district. Administratively, it belongs to Kabupaten Sumbawa, which is part of Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara) province. Based on the settlement's coordinates (approximately 8.58 degrees south latitude and 117.06 degrees east longitude), it is situated in the western coastal strip of Sumbawa. The macroregion is classified within the Bali and Lesser Sunda Islands zone, which geographically extends from the eastern neighborhood of Bali through Lombok and Sumbawa.
General overview
No independent, detailed encyclopedic source is available for the settlement of Marente, so its characteristics can primarily be understood within the framework of the broader administrative units – Kecamatan Alas and Kabupaten Sumbawa. Kabupaten Sumbawa occupies the western portion of Sumbawa island, with its capital in Sumbawa Besar city. According to late 2024 data, the kabupaten has a population of approximately 528,000, which represents relatively low population density relative to the area's size. Kecamatan Alas extends across the western, coastal areas of the kabupaten, where villages typically subsist on agriculture, fishing, and small-scale commerce. Marente is a settlement belonging to this district, likely a smaller, rural-character settlement that is not among the region's prominent tourist destinations. Sumbawa island as a whole has relatively less developed tourist infrastructure compared to Lombok or Bali, though the number of outside visitors has gradually increased in recent decades.
Real estate and investment
No settlement-level, publicly available data exists regarding Marente's real estate market, so the broader context of Kabupaten Sumbawa and Nusa Tenggara Barat province is presented below. In the region, property prices are generally considerably lower than in the vicinity of Bali or Lombok's tourist centers, which is partly explained by less developed infrastructure and lower demand. Investment interest on the island primarily concentrates on agricultural land and areas near potential future tourism development. As an important general framework, it should be noted that foreign nationals in Indonesia cannot acquire full property ownership (Hak Milik) on land; the legal system permits limited forms for them, such as Hak Pakai (right of use) or long-term rental arrangements. These general Indonesian land ownership rules apply to Marente and its surrounding area. In local, rural villages, property transactions are typically minimal and occur mainly between local actors.
Safety and security
No settlement-level statistical data is available regarding Marente's safety. Generally speaking, the rural settlements of Kabupaten Sumbawa and Nusa Tenggara Barat province can be characterized by lower crime levels compared to larger Indonesian cities, partly explained by smaller populations, tight community bonds, and traditional social norms. However, in smaller rural areas, police presence and institutional infrastructure may also be more modest than in cities. From a transportation perspective, certain sections of roads on Sumbawa island are less developed, which requires heightened caution during travel. These are regional-level, general observations; a specific safety assessment for Marente cannot be provided due to lack of sources.
Tourist attractions
No tourist attractions directly associated with the settlement of Marente are known from sources. However, the broader Kecamatan Alas and Kabupaten Sumbawa possess numerous natural assets that contribute to the appeal of the surrounding area. The natural attractions generally known of Sumbawa island include relatively untouched coastlines, coral reefs, and mountainous landscapes, which are accessible at several points within the island, though their specific distance from Marente would require separate verification. Sumbawa Besar, the capital of the kabupaten, is a cultural and administrative center where the historical traditions of Kesultanan Sumbawa remain present in its built heritage and local culture – this is, however, an observation to be understood at the kabupaten level, not a direct statement about Marente. For visitors to the region, the coastal location of the Alas district and the island's relatively untouched natural environment may constitute the main attractions.
Summary
Marente is a small settlement located in the western part of Sumbawa island, within the territory of Kecamatan Alas, belonging to Kabupaten Sumbawa in Nusa Tenggara Barat province. No direct, detailed sources are available for the settlement; its characteristics can be placed within the context of broader administrative units – particularly the approximately 528,000-strong kabupaten. The surrounding area is rural in character, based on agriculture and fishing, with modest tourist infrastructure and a real estate market observable at the region's general level. The island's natural assets and relatively low level of development together form the framework within which Marente is situated.
