Seaweed Ecotourism: Transforming South Sulawesi’s Coastal Identity into a Global Sustainable Destination
The integration of marine research, product innovation, and tourism scholarship took center stage during the visit of an international delegation to CV Bulan Bintang’s workshop in Makassar on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. Ratna Sari, S.Pi., M.Si., presented the research and formulation process behind sustainably developed seaweed-based cosmetic products, demonstrating how downstream innovation can strengthen coastal economic resilience. Alongside this, the newly published book Seaweed Ecotourism: Coastal Product Innovation as an Opportunity for Sustainable Tourism, co-authored by Dirk Sandarupa, M.Hum., MCE, Tourism Lecturer at Hasanuddin University, and Ratna Sari, was also introduced.
The book explores the integration of seaweed production, downstream product innovation, and ecotourism development as a strategic pathway to empower coastal communities. Combining cultural research, tourism studies, and marine-based industry perspectives, it positions seaweed not merely as an economic commodity but as a foundation for literacy, coastal identity, and sustainable tourism narratives. Dr. Dirk Sandarupa emphasized that future coastal development must be rooted in local knowledge and supported by academic literacy and industrial innovation. “Seaweed ecotourism is not merely about products; it is about narrative, coastal identity, and social sustainability,” he explained.
The visit was conducted by a delegation from Kyoto University and Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) or National Research and Innovation Agency, highlighting the growing international attention toward seaweed downstream innovation from South Sulawesi. The delegation was led by Noguchi Ryozo, Professor of Agriculture at Kyoto University, who directly observed the production process and assessed its potential contribution to coastal economic development.
Prof. Noguchi praised the strong integration between research and industry demonstrated in the initiative. “The utilization of marine resources shown here reflects an innovative and sustainable approach. It is a promising model for coastal economic development,” he stated.
Technical discussions with BRIN further focused on the utilization of marine natural resources for cosmetics and health industries, alongside opportunities for expanded international research collaboration. As a strategic follow-up, the innovation profile of CV Bulan Bintang is planned to be featured on the platform of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, strengthening global networking and knowledge exchange.
The visit confirms that locally rooted innovation from South Sulawesi can compete globally when supported by academic research, literacy development, tourism scholarship, and strong international partnerships.