Kolaka Readies 17 Marine Destinations for School Holiday Surge

RRI.CO.ID, Kolaka - The Kolaka Tourism Agency in Southeast Sulawesi is pulling out all the stops to welcome a projected wave of vacationers ahead of the 2026 school holiday season, priming a diverse lineup of 17 marine tourism destinations across the regency.

To handle the peak travel window smoothly, the local administration has activated a comprehensive preparation strategy stretching from infrastructure upgrades to community-based security networks. The 17 coastal getaways prepared for travelers include Kalomang, Kembar, Watubangga, Poturua, Ambira, Lestari, Sweedy, Karamba, and Harapan beaches. Completing the roster are Tanjung Kayu Angin, Indah Kapu, Shaka, Kei-Kei, Malaha, Pelangi, Tanjung Karang, and the famous Tamborasi Beach.

"In facing this school holiday, we expect all destination managers to truly prepare themselves and provide maximum service to the visitors," Kolaka Tourism Agency Head Andi Pangoriseng said in Kolaka on Monday, June 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Based on statistical trends from previous holiday cycles, local authorities project that Tamborasi Beach and Kalomang Beach will remain the twin crown jewels of the regency's tourism sector. Despite their remote geographic locations requiring a significantly longer travel time from the urban center compared to metropolitan beachheads like Shaka, Malaha, and Kayu Angin, both spots consistently draw the largest crowds.

"The ones that are always the most crowded are these two, Tamborasi and Kalomang beaches. Compared to the ones close by here," Andi noted.

To accommodate the influx, the tourism agency is focusing its direct interventions on upgrading essential public amenities to optimize visitor comfort and convenience.

"Our intervention is focused more on fulfilling tourist service amenities, starting from organizing entrance ticket booths, gazebos, cottages, public sanitation facilities, changing rooms, prayer rooms, including the culinary options," Andi explained.

Recognizing that large-scale holiday crowds bring increased safety risks, the agency has formed inter-sectoral task forces. Tourism officials are collaborating with village administrations, local Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis), and grassroots security elements like the military's Babinsa and the police's Bhabinkamtibmas to safeguard coastal strips.

"We also urge managers to deploy dedicated personnel to direct tourists, map out safe zones, and prevent accidents at the tourist locations," Andi said.

Looking beyond the seasonal rush, the regency intends to heavily invest in hospitality upskilling and professional development programs to unlock the region's full economic capabilities.

"From the standpoint of natural beauty, Kolaka's tourism potential is no less competitive compared to other regions like Bali," Andi added confidently.

As a parting note for incoming vacationers, the tourism chief issued a strong appeal for environmental stewardship, urging holidaymakers to maintain the structural integrity of the delicate coastal ecosystems by cutting down on plastic waste and practicing responsible trash disposal throughout their travels. ***