IHA to Protect Indonesian Cultural Heritage and Historical Legacy

TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – Establishing the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA) in 2023 is an essential milestone in protecting and utilizing cultural heritage in Indonesia. The new agency is central to strengthening cultural heritage management, integral to the nation's identity and historical heritage.

Through the IHA, efforts to preserve cultural heritage will be taken more seriously, ensuring that these cultural assets are maintained and utilized for education, tourism, and cultural diplomacy.

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Indonesia has an extraordinary wealth of cultural heritage, ranging from ancient sites, historic buildings, to intangible cultural heritage. Challenges in its preservation so far include limited funding and suboptimal management.

Notto mention the need for more public understanding of the importance of cultural heritage as part of the nation's wealth. The presence of the Indonesian Heritage Agency is a concrete solution to strengthen the protection and management of cultural heritage.

Strengthening Protection and Conservation

Through the Indonesian Heritage Agency, the government is committed to strengthening cultural heritage protection efforts across Indonesia. The IHA must ensure that cultural sites, including historical objects, receive complete protection from damage and destruction.

This support includes conserving historical objects and sites, direct supervision, and using modern technology in documentation and restoration.

Hatib Rachmawan, Lecturer at Ahmad Dahlan University, stated that the IHA is essential in strengthening the protection and management of cultural heritage.

"With the establishment of the Indonesian Heritage Agency, Indonesia has a great opportunity to strengthen cultural heritage management, not only in conservation but also in utilizing it for educational and tourism purposes. This is a step forward in preserving our cultural heritage so that it is not lost amid modernization," he explained.

Cultural heritage in Indonesia is now under more structured oversight, thanks to the IHA, which is directly involved in developing preservation policies and strengthening coordination between central and local governments.

Cultural Heritage as a Center for Education and Tourism

In addition to the conservation aspect, the Indonesian Heritage Agency contributes to utilizing cultural heritage as a source of education and a tourism destination.

The preservation programs developed by IHA seek to protect cultural sites and open more comprehensive access for the public to learn and understand the historical and cultural values contained in these sites.

With IHA's support, cultural heritage has become more dynamic. These sites are not just objects of preservation but also places that provide educational experiences to the community, especially the younger generation.

IHA is working with local communities, schools, and academics to develop a heritage-based educational curriculum to introduce local history and culture from an early age.

Heritage-based Cultural Diplomacy

IHA also has an essential mission in utilizing cultural heritage to strengthen Indonesia's cultural diplomacy at the international level. Some Indonesian cultural sites, such as Borobudur and Prambanan Temples, have been recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO.

The presence of IHA allows the management of these sites to be more professional and of international standards, thus increasing Indonesia's attractiveness in the eyes of the world.

Not only that, a well-preserved cultural heritage can also be an effective tool of cultural diplomacy, introducing Indonesia to the world through its rich history. IHA plays a role in developing strategies to bring more cultural sites to the global stage while safeguarding national identity amid globalization.

Economic Potential of Cultural Heritage Utilization

The preservation and utilization of cultural heritage also has the potential to open up local economic opportunities through the tourism and creative economy sectors. The Indonesian Heritage Agency encourages synergy between cultural heritage management and economic development around cultural sites.

Local communities are involved in managing and utilizing cultural heritage as part of an empowerment program, thus preserving history and opening up new income opportunities for local communities.

The establishment of the Indonesian Heritage Agency marks a new era in Indonesia's cultural heritage preservation. Through more structured efforts, IHA has strengthened the protection, utilization and management of cultural heritage to ensure that the nation's historical heritage remains alive and benefits future generations. (*)

Pewarta: Mistahul Rahmi (DJ)

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