KBRN, Surabaya: Engaging in educational tourism can be an appealing option for the public during the long Christmas and New Year holidays. One such destination is the Bung Karno Birthplace Museum, located at Jalan Peneleh Gang Pandean IV No. 40, Genteng Subdistrict, Surabaya City, East Java.

Saidatul Makmunah, Head of the city's Museum and Cultural Arts Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD), explained that future development of the museum will include replicas in designated rooms, along with the addition of modern technological features.

“Currently, there are no collections here. So we are considering adding narratives or media such as AI,” she told RRI Surabaya on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

To further boost the number of visitors to historical sites, the Surabaya City Administration has expanded its fleet of tourism buses, offering package tours that connect one museum to another. “In tourism, buses are already available for inter-museum visits. New buses and routes have been added to support these packages,” she said.

Meanwhile, Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), which oversees tourism, has encouraged the transformation of the Bung Karno Birthplace Museum into more than just a tourist attraction. The commission stressed the importance of equipping the site with safety facilities to protect visitors.

“This is crucial. In museums abroad, such as in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, safety equipment for fire or earthquake emergencies is standard, and it works well to protect people,” said Commission VII lawmaker Bambang Haryo Soekartono.

He added that protective measures against fire, earthquakes, and floods are also necessary to safeguard archives and historical artifacts. Such precautions, he noted, could prevent incidents like the fire that damaged part of the Grahadi State Building.

“From what I’ve seen, many of our museums still lack adequate protection. Safeguarding these national assets is essential so they are not damaged,” he urged. (Misni Parjiati/Sri Wahyuni)