Indonesia is Ready to Push the Realization of the Old City Semarang to Be Creative Hub

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio stated his willingness to encourage and realize the Old City in Semarang, Central Java, as a creative hub by the direction of President Joko Widodo.

During a working visit to Semarang, Central Java, on Monday (30/12) accompanying President Joko Widodo, Wishnutama emphasized the importance of developing a unique creative economy industry in each destination, including the destination of the Old City Region of Semarang, Central Java.

"Each destination has a different creative industry to develop. In Labuan Bajo, for example, we have a 'creative hub' assigned to find the potential for creative industries. Each region is different, so does the Old City. That's where the creative economy functions: to look for potential and differentiation," said Wishnutama.

He explained that the presence of tourism and creative industries in an area would bring lives to existing infrastructure. "The potential of tourism can be of economic value through efforts to improve the quality of souvenirs, music, photography, culinary, or performance art so that it can bring prosperity for creative economic actors," he continued.

President Joko Widodo suggested that the Old City of Semarang, besides being filled with arts and culture, it should also be filled with activities that could elevate the people's economy. "Daily activities must be filled with cultural arts and culinary activities so that it lifts economic growth in Central Java," he said.

Emphasizing the importance of developing creative industries in the Old City Region of Semarang, Central Java, this is also in line with the efforts of the city government to revive and propose the region as UNESCO World Heritage. A program from the United Nations that serves to preserve and maintain the cultural and natural heritage sites in various countries in the world.

Semarang Mayor Hendrar Prihadi hopes that the Old City will become one of the cultural heritages recorded in UNESCO in 2021. "It is currently still in the preparation of dossiers, and the trial will take place in 2020," said Hendrar Prihadi.

Currently, the Semarang Old City, which stretches across 22 hectares of land, is already using paving blocks and has a barrier. It is also equipped with utility networks in the form of electric cables, optical fiber, telephones, underground drinking water pipes, drainage networks, and the construction of two retention ponds (Berok Pond and Bubakan) to reduce the risk of inundation.

The Semarang Old Town area is planned to be free from vehicles in the future. There are currently three golf cart units that tourists can use to get around the area.

Previously the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo hoped that the Semarang Old Town Area could become a creative hub for Central Java.

It was conveyed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo during his working visit today. "Semarang Old City has been developed for 2 years with a budget of Rp170 billion. Now it is ready. The most important thing is that there are good activities and contents, especially related to the creative economy and creative industries in the cities of Semarang and Central Java in general. In the future, it will become a Creative Hub for Central Java," said the President.

"Semarang's Old City has been restored well, it can become a new icon of Semarang and Central Java to attract tourists," he continued.

Accompanied by Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio, together with Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, and Semarang Mayor Hendrar Prihadi, the President visited several icons in the tourist area. The images visited included Semarang Creative Gallery, Root House, Oudetrap Building, and SME Centers.

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