Destinasea

The Village Government of Welora, Southwest Maluku Regency, in collaboration with WWF-Indonesia, has conducted a study on the carrying capacity of marine tourism in Welora Village and its surrounding waters. This assessment was carried out as part of an effort to develop high-quality, sustainable, and environmentally friendly marine tourism while avoiding the risks of overtourism.

Located between the Banda Sea and the Timor Sea, Welora Village is a prime destination on Dawera Island, Southwest Maluku. Welora is already known as a diving hotspot visited by both domestic and international tourists. The area boasts vibrant, healthy coral reefs of impressive size and color diversity, alongside marine life such as giant groupers nearly two meters long, mesmerizing schools of barracuda, and the occasional appearance of napoleon wrasse during dives.

In 2020, Welora Village was awarded First Place in the Anugerah Pesona Indonesia (API Award) under the “Best New Tourist Destination” category. A peaceful village with neatly aligned houses and friendly residents, Welora warmly welcomes visitors and often makes them feel at home.

Local residents and the village tourism board continue working to promote Welora as a recognized tourist destination. According to records from the Welora Village Government, between 2021 and 2023, a total of 13 Liveaboard (LoB) vessels made stops in Welora, bringing as many as 291 tourists from countries including the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and more.

As part of efforts to develop sustainable tourism, the Welora Village Government teamed up with WWF-Indonesia to conduct a tourism carrying capacity assessment, covering both coastal areas and marine tourism activities. The study, conducted from March 20–24, 2024, surveyed four coastal points to analyze beach characteristics and five dive sites to assess biodiversity and marine life.

“We are very grateful for this tourism carrying capacity study. Hopefully, the results will help us improve our services and develop essential tourism facilities that are currently lacking in Welora,” said Markus Laimera, Village Secretary of Welora and one of the pioneers of the village tourism initiative.

Echoing Markus’ sentiments, Sarjon Walupi, the Village Head of Welora, expressed his deep appreciation to WWF-Indonesia. He pledged full support throughout and after the activity. For him, the collaboration with WWF-Indonesia has further boosted the community's confidence in building a tourism village that aligns with conservation goals. The local community has long participated in efforts to protect the marine biodiversity around Welora—both individually and through organized initiatives.

Anastasia Alerbitu, Marine Tourism and Community Officer for WWF-Indonesia in Southwest Maluku, emphasized the importance of this study from a conservation perspective. “Considering Welora’s current tourism potential, it is essential to plan and manage tourism wisely. This assessment provides key data, such as the maximum visitor capacity for each beach or the safe diver limit per dive site. These findings support the goal of establishing Welora as a high-quality, sustainable tourism destination while preventing overtourism.”

This carrying capacity study will serve as a foundational dataset for future research related to sustainable marine tourism development, particularly in connection to marine biodiversity. The findings will also support tourism promotion for Welora Village, including dive site maps and marine biodiversity information that highlight the natural beauty and tourism potential of Welora.