RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Culture is intensifying its call for regional authorities to overhaul the management of local heritage sites, viewing cultural preservation as a vital catalyst for community welfare. Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, May 4, 2026, Culture Minister, Fadli Zon, emphasized that revitalizing museums and heritage sites is not merely about preservation, but about creating dynamic spaces that draw crowds and foster public education.

"We are encouraging provincial, subdistrict, and city administrations to clean up and improve their cultural assets, including their museums and heritage sites," said Minister Fadli, as quoted by Antara.

This push for modernization follows an aggressive year of restoration in 2025, during which the Ministry of Culture successfully revitalized 152 heritage sites and museums nationwide. Key projects included the historic Gunongan Site in Aceh, the ancient Candi Arjuna in Central Java, the Gua Harimau Museum in South Sumatra, and the Kayu Jao Mosque in West Sumatra.

Beyond state-owned assets, the Ministry also forged strategic partnerships to restore the Panggung Sanggabuwana within the Surakarta Palace and the Tomb of Ranggawarsita in Klaten, demonstrating a broad approach to safeguarding the nation’s diverse history.

The investment in these cultural landmarks appears to be yielding significant dividends in public engagement. According to data from the Ministry, a total of 4,322,507 people visited the 18 museums and 34 heritage sites managed by the Museum and Heritage Technical Service Unit throughout 2025.

Director General of Cultural Protection and Traditions, Restu Gunawan, noted that these figures represent a substantial upward trend in public interest. This total marks a notable increase from the previous year, which saw attendance figures hovering between 3.8 million and 3.9 million visitors in 2024. ***