Women-Led Ecotourism Restores Nature and Strengthens Tukamasea Village

Women are helping transform village governance, environmental protection, tourism, and youth education in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Ecotourism continues to grow across Southeast Asia as communities seek tourism models that support environmental protection, cultural preservation, and local livelihoods.

Women play a major role in the tourism and hospitality sector. They represent around 52 percent of the tourism workforce in Asia-Pacific and more than half of the global tourism workforce. Many women, however, remain in low-paying, temporary, or informal jobs.

Women-led ecotourism initiatives are helping address this gap by giving women stronger roles in tourism management, environmental conservation, and community decision-making.

In the Philippines, women-led groups have developed projects that combine tourism with cultural and environmental protection. These include mangrove conservation and eco-guiding programs in Bantayan, as well as indigenous homestays in the Cordillera that highlight weaving, rice farming, and traditional storytelling.

Similar community-based models are gaining ground in Indonesia.

From Flooding to Community Action

In 2024, repeated flooding affected Tukamasea Village in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Land degradation, shrinking water catchment areas, and upstream land clearing contributed to the disaster.

Floodwaters submerged 82 hectares of farmland. They also damaged farm roads, irrigation systems, and local livelihoods in Manarang Hamlet.

The crisis pushed residents to take a more active role in village planning and budget decisions.

Through the Village Medium-Term Development Plan, the community formed the Budget Reading Group, known as KBA. The group promotes transparency, participation, and accountability in village development.

Women hold 13 of the group’s 15 seats.

“Through KBA, we learned that the village budget does not belong to a few people, but to everyone, including for guarding the environment and the future of the village,” said KBA member Sirawarti Ona Lewenussa.

KBA members meet every week to collect community feedback, prepare proposals, and raise local concerns during sub-district development planning meetings.

The group helps ensure that public funds respond to community needs and support long-term environmental protection.

Improving Village Governance

PINUS South Sulawesi provided mentorship and training to KBA members.

The program taught residents how to understand the Village Medium-Term Development Plan, monitor public funds, and design programs based on environmental priorities.

Residents also learned about Ecological-Based District Budget Transfers, or TAKE. The funding system links government support to environmental performance.

Following the training, the village government began publicly disclosing its Village Budget. Officials also adjusted spending priorities to support women, vulnerable groups, and environmental programs.

“We do not just learn to read the budget, but also monitor and evaluate village fund programs so they truly answer the needs of the poor and protect the environment,” Ona said.

KBA has proposed tree planting in flood-prone areas, river dredging, and land rehabilitation near former mining sites.

The village allocated 110 million Indonesian rupiah for tourism infrastructure in 2022. Funding increased to 139.6 million rupiah in 2023 and reached 138.5 million rupiah in 2024.

“This mentorship is not just about teaching technical skills, but building awareness that the village budget is a shared tool to answer social, environmental, and economic needs,” said PINUS South Sulawesi Project Officer Rizky Awalita.

Dolli Tourism Supports Local Livelihoods

One of the results of stronger community oversight is the development of Dolli Tourism.

The destination began with 500 million Indonesian rupiah in village funding. Total investment later reached nearly 1 billion rupiah.

From 2021 to 2025, Dolli Tourism generated more than 1 billion rupiah in gross revenue. It also provided annual net returns of 60 million to 65 million rupiah to the village.

The Village-Owned Enterprise and the Tourism Awareness Group jointly manage the destination.

Around 60 percent of tourism revenue supports local livelihoods and community development.

“Residents are starting to see that guarding nature and managing village potential together can open jobs and increase welfare,” Awalita said.

The tourism site directly employs 17 residents. It also supports around 20 women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises operating near the destination.

Tourism revenue has also funded scholarships for 240 underprivileged students from elementary school to university between 2021 and 2024.

Community leaders plan to expand environmentally responsible tourism, create more jobs, and ensure that future development benefits residents.

“We want KBA to remain a learning space and a policy guardian, so that village development truly sides with the citizens and nature,” Ona said.