City to restore five heritage buildings

Agnes Winarti, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Wed, 02/11/2009 11:20 AM  

The city administration will start restoration work to four museum buildings and the Conservation Institute office by April this year, an official said Tuesday. 

“The administration has approved the budget for the renovation of the five heritage buildings,” said Arie Budhiman, the head of the city tourism and cultural agency, Tuesday. “The buildings need urgent restoration.” 

The city allocated Rp 5 billion (US$454,545) for the restoration of  Joang 1945 Museum, Rp 5 billion for the Textile Museum, Rp 3 billion for the Puppet Museum, Rp 2.5 billion for the MH Thamrin Museum and Rp 5 billion for the Conservation Institute (Balai Konservasi) office. 

“Hopefully, restoration can start April or early May, if the funds are disbursed this month,” Arie said. 

The Joang 1945 Museum (the 1945 Struggle for Independence Museum) is located on Jl. Menteng Raya, the Textile Museum is on Jl. KS Tubun, Petamburan, Tanah Abang, the MH Thamrin Museum is on Jl. Kenari, Senen, all in Central Jakarta. Both the Puppet Museum and the Conservation Institute are located on Jl. Pintu Besar Utara in West Jakarta. 

“Restoration of the five buildings is needed to maintain visitors’ safety and comfort,” Arie said.

 He said restoration of heritage buildings like museums could be regarded as part of efforts to increase tourism. 

The city administration has a total of nine museums under its authority — the Jakarta History Museum, Maritime Museum, Puppet Museum, Ceramic and Fine Arts Museum, Textile Museum, Joang 45 Museum, Prasasti Museum, Onrust Archaeology Park and Proclamator Park at the National Monument. 

The administration received Rp 4.1 billion in revenue from people visiting the city’s museums last year, exceeding its target of Rp 3.6 billion. 

This year, the agency aims to net Rp 3.9 billion from museum visitors. 

Despite setting the target lower than the level of revenue reached last year, Arie said, “We are optimistic about getting a 5 percent increase in revenue this year.” 

The agency has allocated Rp 60 billion this year toward promoting Jakarta to foreign tourists.

Marketing campaigns will be performed extensively in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe and the Middle East. 

This year, the agency is hoping to welcome 20 million local and 1.7 million foreign tourists to Jakarta. 

City secretary Muhayat said, as quoted by beritajakarta.com on Tuesday, tourism was a significant contributor to city revenue. 

Last year, tourism contributed Rp 1.5 trillion, or 14.54 percent of Jakarta’s total revenue.

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