TMII turns 29, holds 9-day gala
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although not as popular as other amusement parks in Jakarta, the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) park is still standing strong and proud after over a quarter of a decade.
The park, which is a scale-model of the country's over 17,500 islands on some 150 hectares, will turn 29 on Tuesday after its April 20, 1975 inauguration.
Founded by the late Tien Soeharto, wife of former president Soeharto, the park is probably her most noted contribution.
To celebrate its anniversary, TMII will hold various festive events in the next nine days, such as plays, operas, traditional dances, pop and traditional music performances and a carnival.
"With the people we're working with, we hope that the public can be proud to have this park around," said General Manager of the park Wibisono Singgih after the opening ceremony of the park's nine-day celebration on Saturday.
On Tuesday, the actual anniversary of the park, visitors will be allowed free entrance after 12 noon. Normally, visitors pay Rp 7,000 (82 U.S. cents) for entrance, not including the fees for entering certain attractions within the park.
Saturday's ceremony was also attended by State Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gde Ardika and Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar.
"TMII plays a significant role in development, especially in the sphere of culture and education. I hope that the park can improve in those two spheres in the coming years," Ardika told The Jakarta Post.
He expects the park to be more active in the process of developing the traditional cultures and incorporating them into the national culture.
Asked about the diminishing interests of the public in visiting the park, Ardika said that the management of TMII should work harder to promote their various events.
"They've been doing a great job so far, but more promotion won't harm. We must remember that visiting this place doesn't have to be just on formal occasions or holidays.
"People can just walk and look around at the culture exhibits. The point is how to make such an educational visit also be a relaxing and fun way to spend the day," he explained.
Wibisono disagreed and suggested that the minister just had not seen the park at the busy times.
"It's not really true when people say TMII has lost its attractiveness. It depends on when you come to this place, it's very exciting and busy here on weekends," he told the Post.
Wibisono added that the government should pay more attention to the park as it was a true state asset.
"It doesn't have to be in the form of funds. At the least, we could get some flexibility in obtaining licenses, paying taxes or electricity fees. A reduction of 50 percent (of any fees) is quite helpful, you know? We shouldn't be treated as a profit- oriented business," he said laughing.
The 150-hectare park is famous for its exhibitions of the traditional houses of each ethnic group accompanied by folklore and traditional tools. It also features dozens of museums, gardens and recreational features as well as mini trains.
The management of TMII is also going to build a new museum devoted to the Chinese-Indonesians and their immigrant ancestors in an attempt to recognize one of the foreign cultures that have helped create Indonesian culture.