The World Heritage Cities (WHC) Conference ended here in Jakarta on Tuesday with a new spirit to promote cultural richness in new towns in Indonesia to endorse them as tourist destinations.
"Mayors of 12 cities in Indonesia have appointed me to begin a global dissemination process," Surakarta Mayor Joko Widodo told The Jakarta Post.
The conference committee member earlier said the meeting had been attended by 93 mayors from Indonesia, including the mayor of Kutai, another world heritage city in East Kalimantan. The conference was also attended by 156 mayors and members of the WHC from 32 cities across the world.
Joko said the establishment of the Heritage Cities Network of Indonesia was also part of a joint promotion of cities that have cultural heritages.
"The most important thing is that each city should differentiate itself from other cities so that each city is unique and deserves to be visited," he said.
According to Joko, the current tourism trend has shifted to cultural-rich regions. "Nature tourism still is the center of attention, but the trend has started to shift to cities that have cultural heritages.
To meet the trend, Joko said Surakarta would develop its cultural heritage, especially its performing arts, as a "selling point" as part of its tourism program.
He said that for the next two years his city would develop its performing arts, music and dance as an effort to differentiate Surakarta from other cities in Indonesia.
"We are now designing an opera house and an international performing arts festival," he said.
Joko said his administration would also build a convention hall in an effort to make Surakarta a city suitable for meetings, incentives travel and conventions and exhibitions (MICE).
"We have talked about it with strategic investors," he said.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said he promised to help establish Surakarta as an international hub to support its role as a MICE city so it could compete with Jakarta and Bali.
"Surakarta is rich in local culture, culinary and tourist attractions," Hassan said after opening an exhibition and art workshop as part of the WHC Conference.
