How Women Turned a Flood Stricken Village Into a Thriving Ecotourism Success Story

 From Environmental Crisis to Community Revival in Southeast Asia

In many rural communities, environmental disasters often leave behind more than damaged land. They can also erode livelihoods, opportunities, and hope for the future.

But in Tukamasea Village, a small community in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, a devastating environmental crisis sparked something remarkable. Instead of waiting for change, local residents—especially women, stepped forward to reshape their future. Through sustainable tourism, environmental restoration, and stronger community participation, they transformed a struggling village into a growing model for inclusive development.

Their story reflects a larger movement taking place across Southeast Asia, where women are increasingly leading ecotourism initiatives that protect natural resources while creating new economic opportunities.

Why Ecotourism Is Booming Across Southeast Asia

Travel is changing.

Today's travelers are looking for more than beautiful destinations. They want meaningful journeys that support local communities, protect nature, and preserve cultural heritage. As a result, ecotourism has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry.

The Philippines is among the countries benefiting from this trend. Known for its breathtaking islands, diverse ecosystems, and rich cultural traditions, the country continues to attract travelers seeking sustainable tourism experiences. Industry projections estimate that the Philippine ecotourism market could reach USD 12.4 billion by 2034, highlighting the growing demand for environmentally responsible travel.

Behind much of this growth are women.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, women make up more than half of the tourism workforce. Yet despite their significant contributions, many continue to face lower wages, limited career advancement opportunities, and informal employment arrangements.

That reality is driving a new wave of women-led tourism projects designed not only to generate income but also to create lasting social and environmental impact.

From mangrove conservation programs led by the Bantayan Women's Association in the Philippines to indigenous homestay initiatives in the Cordillera region, women are helping redefine what sustainable tourism can achieve.

The same approach is now creating positive change across the border in Indonesia.

When Floods Changed Everything

For years, environmental degradation slowly weakened the landscape surrounding Tukamasea Village.

Shrinking water catchment areas, extensive land clearing, and damaged ecosystems left the community increasingly vulnerable to flooding. Then in 2024, disaster struck.

Repeated floods inundated 82 hectares of farmland, damaged irrigation systems and farm roads, and disrupted daily life throughout the village. Farmers saw their harvests disappear. Families struggled with declining incomes. Community members faced growing uncertainty about the future.

The floods served as a wake-up call.

Residents realized that rebuilding the village would require more than repairing infrastructure. It would demand stronger community participation, better governance, and long-term environmental solutions.

Women Became the Driving Force for Change

As village leaders developed new strategies for recovery, a unique initiative emerged.

The Village Medium-Term Development Plan established the Budget Reading Group, known locally as KBA, to increase transparency and encourage public participation in development planning.

What happened next surprised many people.

Women quickly became the backbone of the organization, holding 13 of its 15 positions.

Instead of allowing development decisions to remain behind closed doors, KBA created a platform where residents could learn how village budgets worked, propose solutions, and help shape future priorities.

For many participants, it was their first opportunity to directly influence local policy.

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

Today, KBA meets every week to collect community feedback, evaluate village programs, and ensure local voices are represented during development planning discussions.

Building Knowledge That Creates Lasting Impact

Community participation alone was not enough.

Residents also needed the skills and knowledge to understand development planning and environmental management.

That support came through mentorship from PINUS South Sulawesi, which trained community members on village budgeting, long-term planning, environmental governance, and ecological development strategies.

The training helped residents understand how public funds could be used more effectively to address environmental challenges while improving quality of life.

Village officials responded by increasing transparency and making budget information more accessible to residents. Funding priorities also shifted to better support women, vulnerable groups, environmental protection, and sustainable economic growth.

The impact extended beyond financial literacy.

Community members began proposing environmental initiatives aimed at reducing future flood risks, including tree planting programs, river rehabilitation efforts, and restoration projects in former mining areas.

For the first time, environmental protection became a central part of local development planning.

How Sustainable Tourism Became a Game Changer

As community participation increased, village leaders saw an opportunity to turn environmental recovery into economic opportunity.

That opportunity became Dolli Tourism.

Centered around the popular Dolli Bungaeja Water Park, the tourism project started with an initial village investment of 500 million IDR.

Over time, the destination attracted nearly 1 billion IDR in total investment and became one of the village's most successful development initiatives.

Between 2021 and 2025, the tourism site generated more than 1 billion IDR in gross revenue while providing consistent annual returns for village development programs.

More importantly, the benefits stayed within the community.

The tourism initiative is jointly managed by the Village-Owned Enterprise and the Tourism Awareness Group, ensuring that approximately 60 percent of tourism revenue is reinvested into local livelihoods and community projects.

Residents no longer see tourism as an industry that benefits only a few businesses.

Instead, it has become a shared economic engine supporting the entire village.

Creating Jobs and Opening Doors for the Next Generation

The impact of Dolli Tourism reaches far beyond visitor numbers.

The destination directly employs 17 local residents while supporting approximately 20 women-led micro and small businesses operating nearby.

Local entrepreneurs now sell food, beverages, handicrafts, and other products to visitors, creating new income streams for families that once relied heavily on agriculture.

Perhaps the most meaningful investment has been in education.

Between 2021 and 2024, tourism revenue funded scholarships for 240 students from low-income families, helping children and young adults continue their education from elementary school through university.

For many families, these scholarships have opened opportunities that previously seemed out of reach.

The village is proving that tourism can be more than a source of revenue. It can become a tool for social mobility, education, and long-term community development.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth

Tukamasea Village's transformation demonstrates what is possible when environmental protection, community participation, and economic development work together.

Women have played a central role in driving this progress, helping ensure that development remains transparent, inclusive, and focused on long-term sustainability.

While challenges remain, the village has created a powerful blueprint for other rural communities seeking solutions to environmental and economic pressures.

By protecting natural resources, investing in local people, and creating opportunities through sustainable tourism, Tukamasea is showing that even communities facing significant challenges can build a more resilient future.

Its journey is not just a story about tourism.

It is a story about leadership, empowerment, and how ordinary people can create extraordinary change when they work together toward a common goal.