Opening of Sasi in Salafen Village as a Pilot for Community-Based Ecotourism Development

The Zakan Day Women’s Group, together with the people of Salafen Village, North Misool, held a sasi opening event in conjunction with a community-based ecotourism trial package on 20–22 May 2026. This activity is part of efforts to develop special interest tourism that highlights local wisdom in natural resource management in Raja Ampat.

The event was supported by the government of the West Papua province, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), and Global Affairs Canada.

Yusdi Lamatenggo, Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Office of West Papua Province, stated that the development of culture- and conservation-based tourism aligns with the direction of sustainable tourism development in West Papua.

“Community-based tourism, like the sasi opening in Salafen, is significant because it connects cultural preservation, environmental protection, and the strengthening of the local economy. This approach presents a potential model for sustainable tourism development in West Papua,” he said.

Yusdi added that the people of Raja Ampat have long coexisted with nature, and sasi has become an integral part of their lives. He explained that the practice represents a collective agreement to ensure the sustainability of marine resources for future generations.

He also highlighted the role of the Zakan Day Women’s Group, which has successfully preserved and continued the sasi tradition as part of coastal and marine ecosystem conservation in Misool.

“The Zakan Day Women’s Group shows that women are not only central in their families but also guardians of the ecosystem. Their efforts are crucial to maintaining the sustainability of Raja Ampat,” Yusdi said.

Sasi is a traditional coastal and marine resource management practice long applied by indigenous communities in Papua and Maluku. Through the customary open-and-close system, communities regulate the measured use of resources to safeguard the sustainability of marine ecosystems while meeting local livelihoods.

In Salafen Village, the area of sasi managed by the Zakan Day Women’s Group reaches 497.85 hectares. The main commodities governed by sasi are sea cucumbers and lobsters, two high-value marine resources for coastal communities. The sasi opening began on 21 May 2026 and will last for three weeks before closing again according to customary rules.

The Zakan Day Women’s Group was established in 2022 to strengthen women’s roles in customary, conservation-based coastal resource management in Salafen Village. Their sasi area now serves as a learning space and an example of community-based resource management still actively practiced today.

During the event, participants engaged in various cultural and learning activities, from sasi opening rituals and marine harvests to discussions on sasi management cycles and harvest record-keeping. Throughout the event, guests stayed with local families to experience the life of coastal communities firsthand.

Yermina Rumayom, the chair of the Zakan Day Women’s Group, explained that the sasi opening is more than just tourist entertainment; it is also a way to share customary values and community-based marine management practices.

“The sasi opening is how the community protects the sea and natural resources together. Through this event, we want to introduce these values to visitors while creating economic opportunities managed directly by the community,” she said.

Agustinus Day, the customary leader of Salafen Village, shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that sasi is a heritage of knowledge with cultural significance that guides the community in preserving the natural balance.

“Sasi teaches people to preserve nature’s balance and harvest its resources wisely. These values are important to keep alive and to share with both the younger generation and visiting guests,” he affirmed.

Ecotourism as a Shared Learning Space

Through the pilot of this sasi-opening tourism package, the Salafen Village community not only introduces community-based tourism but also gathers feedback from participants to enhance services, conservation practices, travel safety, and cultural strengthening.

“We are still learning to develop this community-based tourism. We want visitors to not only enjoy nature but also understand the life of coastal communities and see firsthand how the people protect the sea through sasi,” said Seal Tiel Lan, Chair of the Salafen Village Ecotourism Group.

Alden Iswanto, one of the participants, shared that he gained a new experience through the sasi opening activities. He felt the event offered not only natural beauty but also a chance to directly learn about sasi-based marine resource management led by the Zakan Day Women’s Group.

“This was a unique experience for me. Beyond enjoying nature, I could see firsthand how the community manages marine resources sustainably through the sasi tradition,” he said.

As part of its commitment to promoting sustainable coastal and marine resource management, YKAN is also dedicated to supporting the development of community-based ecotourism in Salafen Village.

YKAN’s Ocean Program Director Muhammad Ilman stated that local, wisdom-based management practices such as sasi are crucial for effective marine conservation.

“YKAN supports the development of community-based ecotourism like that in Salafen Village because economic benefits can go hand in hand with cultural and natural resource preservation,” he said.

Through this initiative, the Zakan Day Women’s Group and the Salafen Village community hope to develop a model of community-based ecotourism that supports conservation, preserves local culture, and sustainably strengthens coastal community economies.