Tourism Minister Visits Rumah Budaya Indonesia in Germany (RBI)

Berlin, 4 March – Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana visited Rumah Budaya Indonesia (RBI) / Haus der Indonesischen Kulturen during an official working visit to Berlin, Germany on Tuesday. ‘Culture is the primary gateway to building the appeal of Indonesian tourism. Through Rumah Budaya Indonesia, we invite the world to know Indonesia more deeply, where Indonesian tourism offers authentic experiences rooted in culture, tradition, and interaction among communities,’ Wardhana said in a statement released in Jakarta on Friday. During the visit, Wardhana was accompanied by Deputy Chief Mission (DCM) of the Indonesian Embassy in Germany Fajar Wirawan Harijo. At RBI she visited the Indonesian language learning room, the library, the angklung room, and enjoyed direct dishes from residents of various countries learning Balinese gamelan and Javanese gamelan. She spoke with German learners of Indonesian and participants in RBI’s arts and culture courses, including two twin German youths Bennet and Gerret who are travelling around Indonesia learning Indonesian and who have become content creators known to the Indonesian and German public. She stated the visit was part of efforts to strengthen promotion of Indonesian tourism through a culture-based approach aligned with the Wonderful Indonesia branding and the #GoBeyondOrdinary campaign. Through cultural diplomacy, she said, Indonesia offers tourism experiences that exceed expectations, not only showcasing natural beauty but also the depth of cultural values, creativity, and local wisdom. The Education and Culture Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin, Roniyus Marjunus, said RBI plays a strategic role in supporting tourism promotion in Germany. Rumah Budaya Indonesia (RBI) is a cultural hub and inclusive public space dedicated to promoting Indonesian arts, language, and traditions to German society and the international community. RBI serves as a meeting point for cultural interaction, both for the Indonesian diaspora and Germans interested in Indonesian culture. The site is managed by the Education and Culture Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin and was first launched in 2012, later relocated and reopened at its current location in the Tiergarten district of Berlin in 2017. Since then, RBI has functioned as a strategic instrument of Indonesian cultural diplomacy, building and strengthening people-to-people contact between Indonesia and Germany through various arts, culture, and educational programmes. Other places visited by the Tourism Minister included Restoran Dapoer to enjoy iftar offerings. The restaurant owned by the Indonesian diaspora Emma Tjandradinata offers authentic Indonesian culinary flavours.