RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is recording growing public interest in domestic culture and heritage. Data from the Ministry of Culture shows museum visits rising sharply and local entertainment gaining stronger support among younger audiences.

At the "BRIN Goes to Industry 4" event held by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Vice Minister of Culture, Giring Ganesha, stressed that narrative is an important aspect in strengthening national identity and it can be told from cultural heritages, including museums. He added that the public need to understand the story and context behind the culture, artifacts, inscriptions, statues, manuscripts, or historical sites.

“A museum isn’t just a place to store old objects, it’s a space for storytelling,” he said

According to the Ministry of Culture, visits to museums and heritage sites managed by the ministry reached 2.25 million in 2024 before rising to 4.21 million in 2025, representing an increase of around 86 percent. Giring said the trend reflects rising awareness and appreciation of Indonesian culture among the public.

Giring also said museums, cultural heritage sites, and creative spaces should support education, tourism, innovation, and the wider creative economy.

“We don’t want our cultural assets to become mere relics. Museums, buildings, cultural heritage sites, historical sites, and temples must be able to provide tangible benefits—serving as spaces for education, sources of well-being, drivers of the creative economy, and incubators for innovation," he stated.

On the same occasion, Vice Minister Giring highlighted that Indonesian films now attract more viewers domestically than Hollywood productions. He also cited Spotify data that shows 70 percent of Indonesian youth prefer listening to Indonesian music rather than Western or K-pop songs.