Alor Kecil is a coastal community in Makassar, Indonesia. Globalization has been one of the main factors in the formation of the Alor Kecil vernacular community due to the high tolerant attitude of the community. The latest manifestation of globalization comes there under the label of coastal tourism which is still in infancy. However, the practices of coastal tourism start to show some socio-cultural and ecological issues in the vernacular settlement by the sea being a critical threshold. This paper explores the transformations of the meaning of the sea from different periods examines the setting of vernacular life in this coastal habitat from the perspectives of the local actors. The study employs the perspective of three local actors who offer some insights through their narrations of their life stories in the coastal habitat. Because of their special knowledge and political power in the community, they could represent the community in Alor Kecil. Findings of this research has shown the specific transformations taking place in Alor Kecil vernacular community. These are the oblivion of local skills, rupture in the relations between the inhabitants and their natural cycle, the vulnerable marine ecosystem, and social inequality in the cultivation of natural resources.
Klara Puspa Indrawati (Tue,) studied this question.