Fadli Zon Says Gen Z is Starting to Be Interested in Cultural Objects, Museum Passport Rp89,000 Ludes 20,000 Units

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon sees the interest of the younger generation in cultural tourism starting to strengthen. He said Gen Z not only lives in the digital space, but also begins to be interested in cultural objects that can be seen, touched, and collected.

Fadli conveyed this during an interview on the Kereta Nusantara Explorer on the way from Semarang to Jakarta, Thursday, July 30.

According to Fadli, cultural tourism now has a large number of enthusiasts, not only in Indonesia, but also in many countries. This trend can be seen from the response to the museum passport that has just been launched.

"Now, besides nature tourism, cultural tourism is quite popular. All over the world, especially Gen Z," said Fadli.

He said the passport museum, which was sold for Rp89,000, was immediately sold out. The number reached 20,000.

"We made, for example, yesterday the museum passport alone, it is now 20,000, even though it is sold. One museum passport is Rp. 89,000, it is immediately gone," he said.

Fadli assessed that the response showed a change in interest among young people. Gen Z, which has been known as the digital generation, also seeks more tangible experiences.

According to Fadli, cultural objects or material culture are interesting because they have a physical form. The object can be held, felt, and collected.

"This Gen Z now likes material culture, because maybe they were digital natives, so something that is shaped, that can be held, that is felt and collected is important," said Fadli.

Fadli associated this trend with the government's agenda to improve museums, cultural heritage sites, and historical buildings. He said President Prabowo Subianto has a concern for history and cultural heritage.

The Ministry of Culture, said Fadli, was also asked to accelerate the revitalization of cultural assets. Starting from museums, cultural heritage sites, temples, old mosques, churches, fortresses, to palaces.

According to Fadli, cultural assets are not enough just to be recorded. These places need to be improved so that visitors come and the cultural ecosystem grows.

"In the end, there will also be many visitors, the ecosystem will grow, the cultural economy, the creative economy will grow, tourism as well," he said.

Fadli said the government is now accelerating the registration, verification, and data collection of national cultural heritage. This year, the Ministry of Culture targets 2,000 national cultural heritage to be recorded.

He said that for 79 years, Indonesia had only recorded 228 national cultural treasures. This year, the number is already more than 1,000.