Museums Designed as Tourist Destinations

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on various parties to design the country`s museums as tourist destinations for the public and at the same time as places to study the country`s history.

For the purpose, the President asked museum managers to improve the museums attractions in order to attract more visitors.

“The museums’ scenarios should be designed in more innovative ways to attract more visitors. Therefore, museum managers should be creative,” President Yudhoyono said when inaugurating the Statue Building (Gedung Arca) of the National Museum at Jalan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

The head of state also encouraged historians and archaeologists to find more artifacts in archaeological sites to show the greatness of Nusantara (Indonesia) in the past and to enrich the collections of historical goods in museums.

The president stated that lessons from the past, civilization and the great ancient kingdoms of Nusantara were significant for strengthening the identity and character of the nation and statesmanship.

“Museums are not only places to deposit historical goods but also places to learn wisdoms from the past,” he said.

The ancient wisdoms included tolerant and wise attitudes in dealing with cultural differences in the community, he said.

Museums could also be revitalized to become places where people could study the ancestors` ancient civilization and traditional wisdoms where people could live in harmony with the environment, he said.

He especially hoped that children could learn history being displayed in museums. Museums should be able to give inspiration to future generations, he added.

At the inauguration ceremony, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Watjik and Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono.

The Statue Building was constructed beginning in 1996, next to the National Museum`s main building.

The National Museum is the country`s oldest museum which was built in 1778 by JCM Radermacher as the Antara News article explained.