Jakarta, Aug 10 (Antara) -- Having thousands of islands with some 300 ethnic groups that speak more than 580 local dialects, Indonesia is rich in culture, which serves as the backbone of its efforts to develop the tourism industry.
The government will continue to preserve, maintain and develop the country's culture as part of efforts to attract foreign tourists, to reach its target to draw some 10.6 million tourists to Indonesia in 2015 and 20 million in the next four years.
Director General of Culture of the Ministry of Education and Culture Kacung Marijan said that it is necessary for Indonesia to develop its culture to attract more foreign tourists.
"Indonesia's culture is one of the main attractions that draw in foreign tourists to the country. A survey revealed that about 60 percent of foreign tourists come to Indonesia because they are interested in its rich culture," he told the media in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday evening last week.
Marijan, who is also a professor at Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java, stated that the cultural potential of tourism had led the government to set a foreign tourist arrival target three-folds higher. While the target was 7 million tourists per annum in the past, the government aims to attract about 20 million tourists in the next five years.
The government continues to develop infrastructure such as galleries and museums to support the country's culture. The director general hopes that tourists find these facilities convenient to visit.
Besides developing cultural infrastructure facilities, the government is also aware of the importance of promoting the country's diverse cultural aspects, including its ethnic groups, tribal customs, traditions and local languages.
To promote its rich culture and to attract more tourists, the government has organized "Indonesian Cultural Week 2015" in Semarang. It began on August 7 and will be held till August 10.
"Indonesians have diverse cultures. This diversity reflects unity," Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedan remarked while officially opening the cultural week in Semarang on Friday.
He added that those visiting the event will witness Indonesian's expression of arts, dialects and other cultural factors under the chosen theme of "Harmony and Diversity."
According to Baswedan, Ki Hajar Dewantara, who was Indonesia's first education minister, stated in one of his books that maintaining culture did not mean merely preserving it but also included developing it.
Therefore, Indonesian youth must develop culture and distinguish between traditions that need to be left behind and those that need to be developed further. "Children must combine tradition with modernity to create harmony," the minister stressed.
Moreover, Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo pointed out that the province can showcase the cultural diversity of Indonesia. The cultural harmony prevalent in Central Java should continue to be maintained.
"We are happy to have the chance to host the cultural week and showcase all cultural harmonies. With this, the characteristics and identity of the nation can continue to be maintained," he said, referring to Indonesian Cultural Week 2015, which is being held in Semarang.
The event, which began on August 7, is being held in Semarang, Central Java, till August 10, to display Indonesia's cultural diversity.
According to Director General of Culture of the Ministry of Education and Culture Kacung Marijan, Indonesia has rich natural and cultural resources, as reflected in its 17,000 islands that stretch 5,000 kilometers from east to west.
He added that the diversity and uniqueness of Indonesian culture are also reflected in the country's population of 250 million, which comprises some 300 ethnic groups that speak in 583 dialects or local languages.
The cultural week exhibits the diversity of various ethnic groups, local languages, arts, customs, traditions, beliefs and cultural systems.
However, Indonesia is facing numerous challenges in the cultural field due to globalization, which exposes different cultures. The swift growth of globalization poses the threat of influence, which contradicts local cultures.
The flow of other countries' cultures has the potential to marginalize Indonesia's age-old local culture.
Marijan further noted that holding the cultural week was expected to increase people's appreciation of their own culture and develop mutual tolerance, respect and understanding of the country's cultural diversity.
He also pointed out that the cultural week introduces visitors to Indonesia's culinary expertise, traditional games, arts, shadow play, history, archaeology, museums and other cultural richness.
"We hope these activities help to preserve and develop the nation's cultural heritage and increase people's appreciation," he remarked.
In addition, the cultural week is expected to further mutual respect and tolerance in the state, as well.
According to Minister Baswedan, the event can raise children's interest in traditions and cultures, which can serve to develop them. As traditions are not static but dynamic, harmony can be ensured.
Therefore, he affirmed that the event will continue to be organized to increase people's love for the nation's cultures. (T.A014/INE)EDITED BY INE(H-YH)
(T.A014/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 10-08-2015 19:41:00 |
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