Jakarta Globe, Lenny Tristia Tambun, April 27, 2013
Jakarta plans to make Kota Tua, the capital’s historical precinct, a special economic zone as the government aims to realize the area’s tourism potential and stop centuries-old buildings from collapsing.
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| A scavenger sits near the neglected colonial-era building in Jakarta’s Kota Tua (old town). (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal) |
Jakarta plans to make Kota Tua, the capital’s historical precinct, a special economic zone as the government aims to realize the area’s tourism potential and stop centuries-old buildings from collapsing.
With the
creation of the zone, economic development, infrastructure and restoration in
the area would become the responsibility of a single government body.
“By
establishing a Kota Tua special economic zone, all of the development will be
done through a single door, run by a specialized authority,” Jakarta tourism
and culture agency chief Arie Budiman said on Friday.
Arie said
that currently development of Kota Tua is the responsibility of multiple
agencies, each with their own programs and priorities.
The
situation has deterred investors and building owners from harnessing the area’s
tourism potential, leaving the buildings, 70 percent of which are privately
owned, to be left in decay.
Despite
laws stating that owners could be fined Rp 50 million ($5,100) to Rp 5 billion
for neglecting their caretaker duties, few have braved the bureaucratic hurdles
to obtain permits to restore the buildings.
For
decades, several plans to revitalize the entire area have failed.
Jakarta
Governor Joko Widodo has announced a new master plan to transform the area into
a cultural tourism center. His administration pledged Rp 150 billion in 2014 to
implement the changes. The Dutch government has also expressed its support of
the new plan.
The focus
of Joko’s plan is to make Kota Tua teem with creative industries such as
fashion, food and handicrafts. At the same time, the governor aims to give the
neighborhood a more exclusive feeling by attracting investment from high-end
hotels, restaurants and galleries.
Arie said
that turning Kota Tua into a special economic zone would allow authorities to
conduct speedy restoration and infrastructure projects and ensure that they
meet the governor’s vision.
But an
economic zone formation requires a presidential decree, and according to Arie,
the provincial government is still trying to formulate the details for the
special zone. “We know that it is a long process,” he said, adding that it might
take three to four years before Kota Tua is turned into a special economic
zone.
But this
will not stop restoration and infrastructure projects already planned by the
government, which will start next year, according to Arie.
“There will
be infrastructure [projects] like sidewalks, lighting, redirecting traffic as
well as staging tourism events to make the place come alive,” he said.
