Kolaka Tourism Office Prepares 17 Marine Destinations for 2026 School Holidays

The Kolaka Tourism Office (Dispar) is preparing 17 marine tourism destinations to anticipate a surge in visitors ahead of the 2026 school holiday season in Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

Speaking in Kolaka on Monday, the Head of the Kolaka Tourism Office, Andi Pangoriseng, identified the 17 marine destinations as Kalomang Beach, Kembar Beach, Watubangga Beach, Poturua, Ambira, Lestari, Sweedy Beach, Karamba Beach, and Harapan Beach. The list also includes Tanjung Kayu Angin Beach, Indah Kapu Beach, Shaka Beach, Kei-Kei Beach, Malaha Beach, Pelangi Beach, Tanjung Karang Beach, and Tamborasi Beach.

“In facing these school holidays, we expect all destination managers to truly prepare themselves and provide maximum service to visitors,” he said.

Reflecting on previous years, Tamborasi Beach and Kalomang Beach are predicted to remain the two most popular and crowded destinations, despite requiring longer travel times compared to beaches closer to the city centre, such as Shaka, Malaha, and Kayu Angin beaches.

Andi explained that the Kolaka Tourism Office is currently focusing on interventions to arrange supporting infrastructure and facilities at these sites to increase tourist comfort. “Our intervention focuses more on fulfilling tourist amenities, ranging from the arrangement of entrance booths, gazebos, cottages, sanitation facilities (toilets), changing rooms, prayer rooms, and culinary areas,” Andi noted.

In addition to infrastructure, the Kolaka Tourism Office has coordinated with various sectors, including local community policing (Babinsa and Bhabinkamtibmas), village governments, and local Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis) to ensure the safety and security of tourists during the holiday season.

“We also urge managers to prepare specialised staff to guide tourists, map out safe areas, and prevent accidents at tourist sites,” said Andi.

Looking ahead, the office will continue to encourage the improvement of human resource capacity within the tourism sector through various training programmes to advance regional tourism. “In terms of natural beauty, Kolaka’s tourism potential is just as competitive as other regions such as Bali,” he added.

He also appealed to tourists planning beach holidays to maintain coastal cleanliness by practising proper waste management, particularly by minimising plastic waste in tourist areas.