Khofifah Urges East Java Regional Heads to Catalogue Intangible Cultural Heritage

Malang, East Java (ANTARA) — East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has called on every regent and mayor across the province to continue cataloguing all intangible cultural heritage in their respective regions.

Speaking at the East Java Cultural Park (TKBJ) in Malang on Sunday, Khofifah said detailed documentation forms part of efforts to nurture and preserve East Java’s cultural wealth for future generations.

“I urge all regents and mayors to continue inventorying all intangible cultural heritage present in their respective areas,” Khofifah said.

Each record of intangible cultural heritage obtained by local governments will be followed up through further exploration to verify its authenticity, thereby strengthening academic manuscripts, after which digitisation will be carried out.

Khofifah expressed confidence that once the cultural documentation process is complete and well organised, it will make it easier for young people to familiarise themselves with existing diversity, from which a desire to participate in preservation efforts will naturally emerge.

During her visit to TKBJ, Khofifah also presented honorary allowances to custodians of cultural heritage sites.

Meanwhile, Malang Mayor Wahyu Hidayat said the collection and inventory of cultural heritage is not merely about preserving stories from the past, but more broadly serves as a means of awakening collective awareness between the government and the public.

He added that the cultural dimension is capable of serving as a driving force in strengthening the tourism ecosystem already established in Malang.

This is because it enhances the city’s tourism appeal in the eyes of visitors from other regions as well as abroad.

“The artists from Malang today — perhaps in the past they were dominated by people of my generation, but now children of kindergarten age are already performing mask dances,” he said.

Wahyu expressed hope that traditional culture will endure in the future and not be eroded by the strong influence of foreign cultures.

“Together, we are committed to advancing East Java’s culture and tourism in a sustainable manner,” he said.