The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, fully supports Bantul Regency to become a UNESCO creative city network in 2023. This support is in the form of collaboration between the Bantul Regency Government and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. According to Sandiaga, the potential that Bantul has is truly world-class when viewed from the tourism and creative industry perspective.
During a visit to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy today (10/8), the Regent of Bantul, Abdul Halim Muslih, confirmed that Bantul has a number of creative economic potentials that deserve to be included in the UNESCO creative city network. These potentials include craft, fashion, and performing arts. 70% of the sources of handicraft products in DIY come from Bantul.
Bantul’s Crafts and Folk Arts theme for the creative city category wasn’t a serendipitious choice. Recycle crafts, traditional crafts, and contemporary crafts live closely in the midst of the people of Bantul, both in terms of artifacts and daily activities.
The contribution given from the creative economy is also quite significant. Despite having been battered by the Covid pandemic, now export activities from the creative industry are back on track. The quality produced is not in doubt. Creative products from Bantul have in fact spread to various regions.
“One of the craft products from Bantul is also on display at the Kemenparekraf office. That means the quality is not playing games,” said Abdul Halim.
When later Bantul succeeds in becoming a UNESCO creative city network in 2023, the Bantul Regency Government is optimistic that Indonesian craftsmanship will lead the world market.