IKN Nusantara: A New Tourist Attraction

Sat, 16 May 2026, 14:12 WIB | By indrastuti | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Tourism

The high volatility is expected to continue until the end of May.

Despite the hot weather, hundreds of people visited the presidential palace area of the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara, East Kalimantan. Since it was opened to the public, IKN Nusantara has become a new tourist attraction in the heart of Kalimantan.

Every day, especially during holidays, the IKN area is crowded with visitors who come not only from East Kalimantan but also from various regions of the country, and even from abroad. Curiosity, pride, and admiration are the reasons why people come, even though the location of IKN is quite far to reach.

IKN is surrounded by tropical forests and partly consists of protected forests (Mount Soeharto). From the forest area, IKN, which is a priority development for the government, has been transformed into towering buildings with the Core Central Government Area (KIPP) covering approximately 6,000 hectares. In recent years, various major facilities have been built in IKN Nusantara, including government buildings, residential facilities, and public areas.

These include the Presidential Palace complex, which consists of the official office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the Vice Presidential Palace of IKN, and of course the Garuda Palace, which is an iconic Presidential Office building in the shape of a Garuda bird spreading its wings. Then there is the State Secretariat Ministry Building, the Nusantara Capital Authority Building, and the Legislative Complex: an office area for the legislative bodies (DPR/MPR), the construction of which is still ongoing.

There are also residential facilities, namely special houses for ministers and officials of the same rank. Rusun ASN (Civil State Apparatus) and Rusun Hankam, which are intended for Polri, BIN, and Paspampres personnel. Including Public and Commercial Facilities such as the National Axis Mosque, shopping centers and providers of daily necessities, to integrated lifestyle areas.

Subiyono, Staff of the IKN Authority, said that so far the construction process of various buildings and supporting facilities in IKN is continuing. “IKN will be built as a modern, integrated and environmentally friendly capital city, with a forest city concept, so its construction does indeed require time,” he said.

The OIKN itself welcomes the public to come and visit so that they can see firsthand the development of the IKN Nusantara area. “We want the public to see firsthand the development of IKN,” he said, while explaining that the construction process is still ongoing in several locations.

For the people of Kalimantan in general, the construction of magnificent buildings, especially the presidential palace, is a source of pride. “IKN is a source of pride for the people of Kalimantan, hopefully the construction of IKN will continue,” said Fendi, a resident of Ampah, Central Kalimantan Province, who came with his family even though he had to travel for more than ten hours to get to IKN.

Khalid, the manager of Banjarbaru Tour, a tour/travel service, said that the existence of IKN has created promising tourism package opportunities. Every month, especially during long holidays, the enthusiasm of people from South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan to visit the IKN area is quite high. “The public’s interest in visiting is very high. In general, we create IKN tour packages as well as various tourist attractions around IKN and Balikpapan,” said Khalid.

Similarly, Herli, the owner of an inn in Sepaku District, the first ring area of IKN, said that every weekend, all 20 of his available inn rooms are always full. “There are many inns around Sepaku. They used to be houses rented by IKN workers, now they have been converted into inns and hotels,” he said.

Located in the heart of Kalimantan, IKN Nusantara has great potential to become a new attraction for nature, education and technology tourism. (H-2)

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