Cirebon Promotes Chinatown & Arab Hamlet to Boost Tourism

RRI.CO.ID, Cirebon - The Cirebon City Administration in West Java is beginning to polish the Pecinan (Chinatown) and Kampung Arab (Arab Hamlet) areas as a showcase for multicultural tourism. The move aims to highlight Cirebon’s identity as a city rich in diverse traditions and a history of tolerance.

Cirebon Mayor Effendi Edo said the Pecinan area, with its Chinese community history and traditions, can be packaged as part of the city’s tourism development. “What we are presenting is the diversity that is part of Cirebon. Cultural areas like Pecinan can become a space for tourists to learn about history and traditions,” he said in Cirebon on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

He emphasized that this effort was marked by the inauguration of the Pecinan Gate on Winaon Street, held in conjunction with the 2026 Moon Cake Festival. The event featured barongsai (lion dance), liong (dragon dance), palace procession groups, and traditional Chinese fashion shows.

According to Edo, cultural activities in the Pecinan area can offer visitors a different experience, as tourists would not only come to enjoy culinary offerings but also directly observe community activities and traditions.

He expressed optimism that such cultural events could continue to be held and developed, so that Pecinan in Cirebon City would have a more diverse agenda in the coming years.

“If we want Cirebon City to advance further, we must move forward together. I hope activities like this will continue to be pursued and, in the future, can be held on an even larger scale,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Edo said the Cirebon City Administration is also looking at other cultural areas that can be developed as part of tourism, one of which is Kampung Arab.

“The development of several of these areas is expected to create complementary tourism options, ranging from cultural and historical tourism to Cirebon’s signature culinary attractions such as nasi jamblang (teak-leaf wrapped rice) and empal gentong (spiced clay-pot beef soup),” he said.

The administration recorded that local own-source revenue (PAD) from the tourism sector in Cirebon City reached IDR 64.91 billion (USD 3.62 million) as of July 2026, with tourist visits exceeding 2 million people.

Meanwhile, First Deputy Speaker of the Cirebon City Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), Harry Saputra Gani, said the development of Pecinan and Kampung Arab could add destination choices for tourists visiting Cirebon.

He stressed that culture-based tourism activities could create opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); creative economy players; and the hotel sector; ensuring they also benefit from increased tourism activity.

He said tourists need to be given more activity options so that visits to Cirebon do not end with culinary tours but extend to cultural activities, shopping, and overnight stays.

“The hope is that people who come to Cirebon will not just eat nasi jamblang or empal gentong and then go home. They can also enjoy festivals, get to know Cirebon’s culture, stay overnight, and shop,” said Harry. ***