Just Like Hanbok, Kebaya Can Be An Attractiveness Of Tourists

A number of models of wearing kebaya were running during a fashion show session at the #INDONESIABERKEBAYA event at the National Museum, Jakarta. (ANTARA PHOTO/Aprillio Akbar)

JAKARTA - Kebaya has great potential to provide interesting experiences for foreign tourists. Even Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa revealed that the potential is similar to the experience of wearing traditional clothes such as hanbok from Korea.

We can create experiences for tourists visiting Indonesia. For example, they can wear a kebaya, just like when in Korea tourists use hanbok. We encourage tourists to wear kebaya and enjoy their journey around Indonesia," Ni Luh said as quoted by Antara.

Responding to the news that the newly inaugurated kebaya as an Unobtent Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, Ni Luh stated that kebaya, as part of traditional Indonesian clothing, has the potential to become a fashion icon that strengthens the nation's cultural identity.

According to Ni Luh, this recognition from UNESCO is an important moment to further develop the use of kebaya, including providing opportunities for tourists to enjoy the beauty of Indonesia while wearing a kebaya.

Ni Luh also appreciated the recognition of kebaya as Indonesia's cultural heritage and expressed her support for the Ministry of Culture's efforts to propose more Indonesian cultural heritage in order to attract international tourists to get to know the country's culture better.

Kebaya is a very strong symbol of Indonesian culture. We will continue to encourage kebaya to be recognized as a world cultural heritage. This is one of the important steps," he added.

On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, UNESCO officially designated the kebaya as Humanitarian Cultural Heritage (WBTb). This decision was announced in the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) which took place in Asuncion, Paraguay, and was approved by countries such as Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

This decision was taken just one day after the recognition of Reog Ponorogo on December 3, 2024. With this ratification, the kebaya became the 15th WBTb recognized by UNESCO.