Heritage Sites, The Next Trend International Destination

It is often thought that history is past, antiquted and just for the old, unable to attract the masses of young people. But recently, history has gained popularity among the young. Movements to treasure national heritage sites have been generated by many city-dwellers in Indonesia. The antiquity and authenticity of our national heritage is a huge magnet that attracts young people in to exploring. Communties of historical interest have sprung up in many forms. There are communities who care for out buildings, old Indonesian culinary heritage, friends of the museums and so on.

As result, heritage tourism as an activity becoming increasingly popular. Effort by many historical communities and what started to develop the concept of heritage tourism . At least, young people have been awakened and are beginning to appreciate national heritage treasure preservation. It is a sort education combine with recreation.  However, many things should be done that require cooperation from many stokeholder; the government, the business community and the general public.

One instant of heritage tourism is a historical trail that called Bandung Lautan Api (Bandung Sea of fire) walking trail, which refers to the historical time of a fiery struggle against Dutch colonial occupation in Indonesia. This historical trails is being promotedby Banding Trails, the city’s leading heritage tour and event organizer, which also have many programs to commemoratethe city’s of Bandung anniversary. Other that just looking around or window-shopping in this city. It is better idea to explore the many historical buildings and through the history of this city, which has many thing of national or International significant and get a better glimpse of what it is all about. To name a few things, this city rang ninth in the world for it’s number of buildings with the art deco architectural style. Indeed an interesting city to visit for lovers of old buildings.

Efforts sustain cultural heritage is also flourishing in Jogjakarta. The Jogja Heritage society for instant has conducted an event called the Jogjakarta Heritage Exploration, which has called for young peoples participation. Not for only conducted tours, the society also involves the local community, such as cooperating with the Njeron Beteng Heritage Tral, which produces a guide map and interactive CD with the involvement of the local community. The community is progressing and hopes to involve more thematic heritage areas, such as visitations to many of the obscure temples scattered around Jogjakarta. For communicative purpose, this community produce regular newsletters.

Another interesting program is a trip to ramble through Kota Gede, which was started in1998. The heritage community here has conducted a village art and culinary heritage inventory that is funded by the World Bank. Kota Gede itself is famous as a remnant of the old Javanese kingdom Mataram, where Kota Gede was once its capital.

In Jakarta, heritage preservation has also grown rapidly. One active community is The Community Who Cares for Indonesian History and Culture (KPSBI), usually just named the Hostoria community. This community has thousands of members from all walks of life, from students to housewives, local historians to expatriates. This community has vigorously spread the care-virus for history and culture heritage. One effort is the Jakarta Trail Program, whose aim is to explore historical sites in and around Jakarta. Although the main activity is a city tour, throughout the journey participants will gain heritage knowledge from historical references and guidance.

Other cities in Indonesia are now also starting to develop their own heritage societies. In Surakarta, the local government has enacted a Heritage Law that tries to preserve any historical buildings or other culturally important buildings whose age exceeds fifty years. Through this government initiative, it is hoped that there will be more historic buildings left for the young generation, in order for them to cherish the cultural significance far in the future.

Through this heritage communities, community awareness  to treasure national history in a fun way will be developed. Traveling to historical places is now considered to be just as cool as hanging out and shopping in the mall.

It is regrettable that Bali as a world-renowned tourist destination has little appreciation for his heritage preservation. Tourism development in Bali has been focused on panoramic views and cultural events, while historic and cultural heritage has been subjected to change due to renovation, even modernization. The old building of Puri Agung Karangasem for instance, is the only old palace left in Bali whose interior has been changed due to renovation. Many Dutch Colonial buildings in Singaraja has also been changed, and many have even been demolished and replaced with modern structured. The Badung market, the oldest market in Bali, has also been renovated to conform to modernization.\

Now we can only see that Bali tries to emphasize its beauty through modernization, and to lesser extent through eco and cultural tourism, but it is neglecting heritage preservation. Tourism communities should be aware that heritage tourism is also a potentially important aspect of tourism sustainability in Bali.
Taken from Bali and Beyond Magazine