Jakarta Plans to Renovate Glodok 'Chinatown' into Tourist Attraction
Translator
Ricky Mohammad Nugraha
Editor
Petir Garda Bhwana
Selasa, 28 September 2021 12:59 WIB
Chinese New Year knick-knacks in Glodok, Jakarta, Friday, January 10, 2020. Towards the celebration of the Chinese New Year (Imlek) 2571 swords began to sell many knick-knacks, including Chinese New Year clothes, angpau, dolls, lanterns, tree hangers, to typical dry foods. Chinese New Year with prices ranging from Rp5,000 to Rp300,000. Tempo/Tony Hartawan
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Glodok area in West Jakarta has long been known as the city’s ‘Chinatown’ due to the number of people with Chinese-descent residing in this area. The local government plans to make this a tourist attraction based on the history behind it.
“The concept will be like going back to the past and making the area a business hub and history tour,” said the West Jakarta head of economic development Iqbal Idham Ramid on September 27, Antaranews reported.
The local government plans to physically rejuvenate the area by renovating its sidewalks and public facilities that will better fit the image of a Chinatown. Ramid claims this plan has accommodated the input from local people.
“There were suggestions from them that we accommodated in terms of design,” he said.
The Glodok area is one of the oldest Chinatown areas in Jakarta as it has existed since the colonial area and became one of the largest economic hubs with a plethora of stores selling unique Chinese souvenirs. However, this location was also an eyewitness to the ethnic cleansing by the Dutch in the past.
