Maritime tourism: Big project with little money

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An attractive historical tourist destination has long been a dream of Jakarta city authorities.

And that's just what it remains -- a dream.

It is more than a decade since the Sunda Kelapa maritime tourism project was first launched, but there is still no significant progress on the planned showcase of Java's Dutch colonial history.

The preservation project of the Sunda Kelapa old harbor and its surrounding areas in the northern part of the city covers 90.6 hectares.

The city administration has issued regulations obliging people to preserve their properties in the area and calling them to take part in the project, but the authorities have failed to provide any facilities or guidance.

The government has also failed to fulfil its promises to restore the pavement and parks and to improve the local transportation.

Pollution from heavy commuter traffic chokes the district.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the private sector has been reluctant to invest in the project.

Owners of old buildings are unwilling to spend valuable business profits on restoring their properties for no financial reward.

As a result, many old buildings, particularly those owned by private firms or individuals, have disappeared and some have been replaced by modern buildings which are not in line with the administration's guidelines for the area.

Most of the remaining old buildings have been seriously damaged by neglect. Only a few are still well-maintained.

Yuswan Aluwi, 80, owner of an old building said it was financially unfeasible for him and other building owners in the area to renovate their properties.

"We want to restore this building to be used for a restaurant, a souvenir shop, or an inn if the tourists will really come to the area," he said.

Yuswan added he would need Rp 2 billion to renovate his building, which was built in 1939 on a block of 1,700 square meters.

Martono Yuwono, executive director of Sunda Kelapa Maritime Tourism Zone, admitted there was a lack of funds to develop the area. Last year, Rp 350 million was allocated for the project.

"Restoring old buildings is expensive, while for some businessmen, the work is not feasible. In other countries the government gives a subsidy," he said.

Martono said that since he took up the position in 1996, only two private owners had renovated their buildings.

They were the shipyard of Vereenigde Oost Indische Companie (VOC) or the Dutch East Indies Company, located in the corner of Jl. Kakap and Jl. Pakin, and the warehouse on Jl. Kakap.

They are now known as VOC Galangan cafe and Raja Kuring restaurant.

Two luxury condominiums, the Mitra Bahari towers, occupy the area that should have been preserved. Unfortunately, the development of the towers was not in line with spatial allocations in the Sunda Kelapa maritime tourism project, neither was the design in conformity with it.

Martono, who has only four assistants, said Sunda Kelapa was also hampered from 1997 by Indonesia's growing economic crisis.