Minister Fadli Opens Opportunities for Private Sector to Help Revitalize Cultural Sites

Fadli Zon membuka peluang keterlibatan swasta, korporasi, hingga filantrop dalam revitalisasi situs budaya. (IST)

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon opened the opportunity for private, corporate, and philanthropic involvement in the revitalization of cultural sites. He assessed that Indonesia's cultural wealth is too big if only the government works on it.

This was conveyed by Fadli when attending the first National Congress and seminar of the Indonesian Cultural Tourism Care Association (PEWIBI) at the Perpusnas RI Auditorium, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Fadli said that cultural tourism has a large economic value if it is managed seriously. He cited the Versailles Palace in France which is said to be able to generate around Rp30 billion per day from ticket sales, not including merchandise.

"Cultural tourism has great economic potential," said Fadli.

According to Fadli, Indonesia has strong capital. He mentioned the ancient painting on Muna Island which is around 67,800 years old, cultural heritage in various regions, and thousands of intangible cultural heritage. Currently, 2,723 intangible cultural heritage have been recorded nationally. As many as 16 of them have been recognized by UNESCO.

However, Fadli emphasized that wealth should not stop as a long list of cultural assets. Cultural sites, said Minister Fadli, must be alive, visited, cared for, and benefit the community.

"There are also cultural sites that are supported and assisted by the private sector, corporations, and even philanthropic individuals who love culture," he said.

Fadli said that the development of culture requires cross-sectoral work. The government, civil society, SOEs, the business world, the media, academics, and the community must be in the same ecosystem.

"Cultural development cannot be carried out by the government alone," said Fadli.

The General Chair and founder of PEWIBI, Irlisa Rachmadiana, said the organization was formed to help the government advance culture-based tourism. PEWIBI was inaugurated on December 30, 2025 and claims to have a network from Aceh to Papua, as well as representatives in America, Europe, and Asia.

Irlisa emphasized that PEWIBI stands as a non-political organization and carries the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. In the event, PEWIBI also awarded the 2026 Cultural Figure to Fadli Zon.