Wakatobi saves a million tourist charms, ranging from the beauty of underwater tourism, beach tourism, historical relics, to cultural arts. After being designated as one of the ten priority tourist destinations by the central government, Wakatobi continues to improve.
In 2016, Wakatobi was determined by the government to be one of the ten priority tourism destinations in Indonesia. Other priority destinations are Borobudur, Lake Toba, Bromo National Park, Tengger, Semeru, Komodo Island, Thousand Islands, Tanjung Kelayang, Mandalika, Morotai, and Tanjung Lesung.
Data from Wakatobi National Park shows how Wakatobi deserves to be a priority tourism destination. Of the 820 species of coral in the world, 750 species of coral (90 percent) of them are in Wakatobi. Thus, 90 percent of the world’s coral species are found in Wakatobi. In addition, Wakatobi is also one of the world-class dive sites. There are dozens of dive sites and dive tour operators ready to pamper tourists to enjoy an underwater paradise.
In Wakatobi there are also Bajo tribes who spend almost all their lives on the sea. The uniqueness of their cultural customs has a tremendous attraction for local and foreign tourists. The unique potential of marine and cultural tourism led Wakatobi to be designated as the 8th Earth Biosphere Reserve in Indonesia by UNESCO in 2012.
The Wakatobi Archipelago consists of four islands:
Binongko Island
This island is very popularly referred to as the “Coral Island” because most of the land surface is made of coral. The island also lacks infrastructure. Nonetheless, the island offers several marine tours and historical tours.
Several dive sites on Binongko Island, including Cowo Dive, Fish Wall, Cavern Wall, and Koko Reef. However, there are also nuseveralations or water areas prohibited from entering, including being prohibited from diving, because they are included in the area of kaombo local wisdom. Land tours that attract attention include the panorama of Koncu Kapala Wali Peak, Palahidu Beach, Pasir Panjang Beach, Yoro Beach, Buku Beach, Wee Beach, and Bella Beach.
In addition, there are a number of sacred sites on Binongko Island, including the Jmapu Grave, Taduna Fort, Sasi Adat Wali, Mbara-mbara Beach, Latuempo Beach, Latuempo Forest, Sampur Bueya Beach, Sampua Bueya Mangrove, Waode Goa Cave, Waode Goa Tomb, Lawa Koncu Patua Wali, La Simbou Mane Tomb, Lawa La Simbou Mane, Koncu Kapala Old Mosque, Baruga Koncu Kapala, Lawa Warido Mata, Lawa Watumbero, Lasikori Cave, Lawa Lapungga, Lapungga Forest, Baruga Bamboo Forest Tua Lapungga, Wa Jiro, Fort Fatiwa, Topa Raja, and Topa Surabi.
Several locations that are considered sacred are a form of local wisdom of the Binongko community. The community also still upholds the local ancestral heritage because it is believed to be a relic of the Binongko Kingdom in the past.
Tomia Island
Tomia Island is a trendy tourist destination in Wakatobi. On this island, Maranggo Airport is capable of being a landing site for small planes. Unfortunately, this small airport does not yet serve regular national flight routes. If opened for regular flights, this airport can increase the number of tourists in Wakatobi.
The seven popular dive sites on the island are Roma Dive Spot, Marimabok Dive Spot, West “38” Fun Dive Spot, Aly Reef Dive Spot, Wakatobi Dive Spot, Table Coral Dive Spot, and Wreck Hunter Dive Spot.
Popular beach tours on this island include Onemoba’a Beach, Lakota Beach, Huntete Beach, Hondue Beach, Soha Beach, and Waitii Beach. In addition to the beach, Tomia Island has other historical objects, such as Rambi Randa Fort, Tomb of Ince Sulaiman, Suo-suo Fort, Patua Fort, and One may Old Mosque.
Kaledupa Island
Kaledupa Island has several dive points that tempt tourists. Some of the dive sites are Buoy 1, Buoy 2, Buoy 3, Buoy 4, Buoy 5, Bay Batfish, Inner Pinnacle, Outer Pinnacle, Ridge 1, Coral Garden, Aquarium, Blue Hole, North Wall 2, Sampela Buoy 1, Sampela Buoy 2, Kaledupa Buoy 2, and Kaledupa Double Spur. Several small islands around Kaledupa Island are also exotic locations for diving. Hoga Island, one of the small islands on the northeast side of Kaledupa Island, offers a diving spot often visited by domestic and foreign tourists.
Kaledupa Island also has several interesting beach destinations, including Sombano Beach, Peropa Beach, and Langgira Beach. Other tours that are quite popular on this island are Lake Sombano, Goa Alam Sangka’anukiye, and Goa Alam Derawa. In addition, there are several forts and tourist attractions of historical value, including the Togo Fort and the Old Mosque, La Donda Fort, the Tua Tomb (Tomb of Imam Fada), and the Kamali Palea Traditional House.
Wangi-wangi Island
Wangi-wangi Island, known locally as Wanci Island, is the main gateway to Wakatobi National Park. The administrative center of Wakatobi Regency is also on this island. There are several dive sites on Wangi-wangi Island, namely Sombu, Kapota Ujung or Tanjung Kapota, Kapota Danau, Entrance or Wandoka Pinnacle, Muka Kampung Station, and Waha.
The Wakatobi Regency Tourism Office also recorded several interesting tourist objects, including Kaluku Beach, Molii Sahatu Beach, Matchmaking Beach, Melai One Beach, Waikesa Beach, Sousu Beach, and Waha Beach or Cemara Beach. A number of interesting forest tours include Motika Protection Forest, Tindoi Protected Forest, Liya Bahari Mangrove Forest, and Liya Togo.
In addition, tourists can also enjoy water bathing tours in a number of caves. This bath tourism is classified as traditional because local children generally use it as a place to play. Because it is relatively close to the shoreline, the water in this bath tastes typically salty, like brackish water. These bath tours include Goa Kontamale Water, Goatee Kosapi Water, Tee Kuea Natural Bath, Water Goa Walobu, Wa Pia-pia, and Watu Tofengka.
Wakatobi’s uniqueness is an attraction for tourist “carriages” in the eastern part of Indonesia. Tourism development in Wakatobi also has the potential to improve the welfare of the local community. However, the central government is still waiting for the role of the central government to build infrastructure and transportation facilities so that Wakatobi can become one of the leading national tourism destinations.
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