TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta declared itself as a Festival City through an event titled Jogja Festivals Forum and Expo (JFFE) held on Tuesday-Wednesday, May 6-7, 2025.
Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo stated that the declaration is an effort for the Tourism City to be able to host various national and international events and festivals in the future.
"We hope that Yogyakarta can become the cultural epicenter and creative collaboration space on a global level," said Hasto on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Hasto mentioned that with hundreds of events on the tourism calendar each year, Yogyakarta positions festivals as the spearhead of the movement.
"As a Festival City, we want to prepare events and festivals that will bring the name of Yogyakarta onto the world stage. The mentioned festivals are not just cultural celebration stages, but are prepared as a diplomatic platform, to drive the economy, and social innovation," he said.
Through this declaration, Yogyakarta is also directed to be more open to become a space for the growth of various forms of creativity that bring forth new ideas and concepts about events and festivals. This can certainly provide a new atmosphere for event enthusiasts, especially foreign tourists seeking a variety of unique world festivals.
In addition, through the Jogja Festivals Forum & Expo 2025, which is now designated as an annual event for festival activists, Yogyakarta opens itself to collaborate with global festival networks that already have a big name in various parts of the world.
Irene Umar, the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy who attended the event, mentioned the importance of the role of festivals in enhancing Indonesia's creative economy competitiveness internationally. "Festivals also become a strategy for cultural branding and state diplomacy," said Irene.
According to Irene, Yogyakarta already has a strong foundation to become a Festival City, with the standard of festival events that have been developed so far.
Dominic Jermey, the British Ambassador to Indonesia at the event, said that festivals can also be a platform to raise issues of greener and more inclusive infrastructure. This includes being a soft diplomacy strength like the UK, which ranked 2nd in the Global Soft Diplomacy Index in 2024. "We see festivals as one of the soft diplomacy strengths and a way to elevate the name of a region," he said.
Editor's Choice: 7 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Yogyakarta Besides Prambanan and Malioboro
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Spain's Royal Palace in Majorca Vandalized in Anti-Tourism Protest
11 jam lalu
Several historic buildings in Majorca or Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain become the target of protests against tourists
Discover the Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong
15 jam lalu
The annual festival on Cheung Chau Island originated during a deadly disease outbreak at the end of the Qing Dynasty
Copenhagen Ranked the World's Happiest City in 2025
16 jam lalu
Copenhagen has ranked high because of its commitment to education, innovation, and transparency.
Conclave: What Travelers Need to Know When Visiting the Vatican
23 jam lalu
The Papal Conclave becomes a magnet for tourists to visit the Vatican, even though the process of electing a new Pope to replace Pope Francis takes place behind closed doors.
10 Best Cities to Visit in Japan Besides Tokyo to Add to Your Bucket List
2 hari lalu
From Osaka to Fukuoka, uncover the best cities to visit in Japan besides Tokyo, offering scenic beauty, authentic travel experiences, and more.
Six Dead, Dozens Injured in India's Goa Religious Festival Stampede
2 hari lalu
Goa State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also stated that a total of 80 injured people are being treated, with 10 in critical condition.
Most Tourists in Labuan Bajo Choose Live-On-Board Experience
7 hari lalu
More than 80 percent of tourists prefer to live on board when visiting Labuan Bajo.
Rempang Eco City: Profile, Facilities, and Objectives Explained
8 hari lalu
Rempang Eco City is a controversial project in Batam, Indonesia, aiming to build an industrial and tourism hub yet faces strong rejection from locals.
Indonesia Targets 249,000 Arrivals from Middle East in 2025
9 hari lalu
The number of Middle Eastern tourists in Indonesia last year reached 224,000 people
Several Killed After Car Drives into Crowd at Street Festival in Vancouver, Canada
10 hari lalu
Police in Vancouver, Canada stated that several people were killed and many others injured after a vehicle crashed into a crowd at a street festival.
