World Tourism Day Becomes Momentum to Develop Makassar’s Marine Tourism

RRI.CO.ID, Makassar - The momentum of World Tourism Day 2026 is being leveraged by the Makassar City Administration in South Sulawesi to reaffirm the direction of sustainable marine tourism development on Lanjukang Island.

The World Tourism Day 2026 was observed globally on September 27. By aligning environmental, economic, and social aspects, the city administration is ensuring that tourism growth does not damage the natural landscape or the living spaces of local residents.

“Lanjukang Island is one of the destinations that will receive administration intervention in the development of Makassar’s marine tourism,” said Head of Makassar City’s Tourism Agency, Andi Hendra Hakamuddin, in Makassar on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

He said that moving forward, his agency will build facilities to complement existing infrastructure on the island, but the challenge lies in conservation, requiring a more cautious approach.

According to him, this development aligns with the vision and mission of the Makassar City Administration to strengthen the marine sector as one of the region’s tourism strengths. The World Tourism Day travel series from September 25–27, 2026, partnered with Marine Buddies to reinforce collaboration among stakeholders in developing marine destinations.

He emphasized that the development of Lanjukang Island is not aimed solely at increasing tourist arrivals. The island’s relatively untouched condition by mass tourism activities needs to be preserved through regulated construction and visitation.

“We have involved all stakeholders. There are many ‘don’ts’ that must be upheld, but there are some ‘does’ to complement facilities on Lanjukang Island,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

The administration is paying special attention to the area’s carrying capacity before proceeding with destination development. Joint analyses with academics and stakeholders have been conducted to determine development patterns and visitor quota limits.

Visit controls also take into account the existence of ecosystems and marine resources around Lanjukang Island, such as coral reefs, sea turtles, and octopus, which are part of coastal communities’ livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of Marine Buddies Makassar, Junaedi Jabbara, said the three pillars that must be considered in tourism development are ecology, economy, and social aspects. “These three pillars must run together, because if one becomes imbalanced, it can harm the local community and make tourism unsustainable,” he said. ***