Culture Minister Proposes Building a Coffee Shop at Bung Karno’s House
Indonesia’s Culture Minister proposes developing Bung Karno’s exile house in Bengkulu by adding a coffee shop and mini library to boost youth engagement and tourism. The initiative seeks to blend historical preservation with cultural experiences, including local coffee and traditional cuisine.
Jakarta: Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has proposed the construction of a coffee shop and a library at the exile house of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, also known as Bung Karno, located in Bengkulu. The proposal aims to attract younger generations to visit the historic site.
“We are at Bung Karno’s exile house in Bengkulu. He was exiled by the Dutch colonial government from 1938 to 1942 until the arrival of Japan. I believe this site can be developed into a center for information, learning, recreation, education, and culture,” Fadli said, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Currently, the site records around 1,500 to 3,000 visitors per month. It is hoped that the new proposal will help increase tourist numbers.
“We hope more people, especially young generations, will come to Bengkulu, particularly to Bung Karno’s exile house, which has been well organized by the Museum and Cultural Heritage Office under the Ministry of Culture,” Fadli added.
The Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party also suggested raising the entrance fee to the Bung Karno House complex as a form of appreciation for cultural heritage. At present, the entrance ticket costs Rp5,000 per person.
“In my opinion, the price could be increased. There needs to be a sense of appreciation. Visitors can come here, enjoy Bengkulu coffee and traditional foods that are recognized as Indonesia’s intangible cultural heritage from Bengkulu,” he stated.
With the addition of a coffee shop and a mini library at Bung Karno’s exile house, visitors would be able to enjoy the historical site while savoring Bengkulu’s distinctive coffee.
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