Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Ahead of the Chinese New Year 2575 Kongzili which falls on February 10 2024, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Uno, provides recommendations for Chinese New Year tourist destinations for travelers in Indonesia.

Based on the Joint Decree (SKB) of the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower, and Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform recorded under Number 855 of 2023, Number 3 of 2023, and Number 4 of 2023, the public will receive long weekend for the Chinese New Year holiday.

In the SKB of the Three Ministers, Friday, February 9 2024, is designated as a joint holiday for Chinese New Year 2475 Kongzili. Then, Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 10 February 2024).

In this way, people can enjoy a three-day holiday, namely from Friday, February 9 2024 to Sunday, February 11 2024.

Sandiaga hopes, moment long weekend which coincides with This Chinese New Year can be a support for achieving the target of 14.3 million visits by foreign tourists (tourists) and 1.25 to 1.5 billion movements of domestic tourists (wisnus).

“We have prepared a travel map for the Chinese New Year holidays, namely tourist destinations in Jakarta, Surakarta, Semarang, Palembang and Singkawang,” said Sandiaga in the Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno at the Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta, Monday (29/1/2024).

“We continue to encourage the Cap Go Meh festival and the welcoming of the Chinese New Year to prioritize local wisdom and culture of the local Chinese community, including heritage tourism,” he continued.

The following are recommendations for Chinese New Year tourist destinations recommended by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy:

1. Petak Sembilan, Jakarta

Photo: Chinese Indonesians worship at the Dharma Bakti Petak Sembilan Vihara, Jakarta, Monday, (4/2/2019). (CNBC Indonesia/Andrean Kristianto)

Petak Sembilan Glodok, located on Jalan Selamat Raya, Glodok, West Jakarta, is the first Chinese New Year tourist destination recommended by Sandiaga Uno.

“In Jakarta there is Glodok Petak Sembilan Jakarta which has become the Glodok Chinatown Tourist Village and we have prepared the tour packages,” said Sandi.

Even though it has not been explained in detail regarding the tour packages that have been prepared, Glodok is indeed an authentic area and has a distinctive feel, especially ahead of the Chinese New Year.

The Petak Sembilan area is already known as the commercial and culinary center in Glodok. Usually, Petak Sembilan is a place for people of Chinese descent to buy clothes, lanterns, Buddhist and Confucian worship equipment, and other typical Chinese food.

Apart from Petak Sembilan, you can also visit other destinations in Glodok, such as Pantjoran Tea House, Vihara Dharma Bhakti, Es Kopi Tak Kie, and various vegetarian culinary delights.

2. Semarang, Central Java

The capital of Central Java, Semarang, is the second Chinese New Year tourist destination recommended by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. Sandi said that Semarang would hold a statue procession and festival to welcome the Chinese New Year.

“In Semarang there is the Kauman area, Central Semarang, which is a Chinatown destination with a Sampookong statue procession and several festivals,” said Sandi.

Quoting from the official website of the Semarang City Tourism Department (Dispar), the Sampookong Chinese New Year Festival will take place from Wednesday, February 7 to Sunday, February 11.

According to the schedule, this festival opens at 08.00 WIB at the Sampookong Temple, Semarang.

3. Surakarta (Solo), Central Java

Surakarta is a recommendation as well as a Chinese New Year tourist destination which will be attended by Sandiaga Uno. According to Sandi, Solo will present an interesting tourist attraction during Chinese New Year, namely Grebeg Sudiro.

“In Solo there will be a tourist village or Chinatown tourist destination, namely Pasar Gede Solo with the Grebeg Sudiro attraction starting January 28 to February 10,” explained Sandi.

“I plan to attend too,” he said.

For information, Grebeg Sudiro is an annual event which is a form of acculturation of Javanese and Chinese culture. This year, Grebeg Sudiro took the theme “United in Diversity”.

In the Grebeg Sudiro series, there are various cultural attractions, such as art performances, cultural carnivals, and the distribution of 4,000 basket cakes.

4. Palembang, South Sumatra

Palembang, South Sumatra is the fourth Chinese New Year tourist destination recommended by Sandi. It is known that Palembang is a city that is mostly inhabited by people of Chinese descent.

“In Palembang there is the Kemaro Island tourist destination. There are Barongsai art attractions and so on,” said Sandi.

For information, Kemaro Island is a small island located in the middle of the Musi River and about 6 kilometers from the Ampera Bridge. There are various interesting tourist attractions here, such as the Hok Tjing Bio Temple and the 9th Floor Pagoda.

5. Singkawang, West Kalimantan

Singkawang is one of the cities in Indonesia where the majority of the population is ethnic Chinese. In fact, Singkawang is the city with the largest Chindo majority in Indonesia with the nickname City of a Thousand Temples.

“Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) this year presents the Cap Go Meh festival in Singkawang,” Sandi exclaimed

Quoting from the official Singkawang City Media Center page, there are 6,000 lanterns that will decorate the streets of Singkawang City. Apart from that, Roundabout 1001 and Beringin Corner will also be decorated with dragon ornaments.

However, the Cap Go Meh celebration in Singkawang will experience changes in concept and format. Because this year's Chinese New Year is close to the 2024 national election agenda.

The Chinese New Year 2575 and Cap Go Meh 2024 celebrations will be filled with the Street Washing Ritual, Cap Go Meh Culinary Festival, Ket Sam Thoi Ritual, and Cap Go Meh.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(hsy/hsy)