Yogyakarta Governor and East Kalimantan Vice‑Governor Agree on Cultural and Tourism Cooperation

Governor of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X met with East Kalimantan Vice‑Governor Seno Aji on 13 July 2026 in Yogyakarta to advance a memorandum of understanding on cultural heritage preservation and tourism development. The officials said joint programs could start in 2027 after planning and budgeting are completed.

The partnership aims to protect Javanese cultural assets among the roughly 40 % of East Kalimantan residents of Javanese descent, while also allowing East Kalimantan to learn from Yogyakarta’s tourism model to generate new local‑government revenue. Both sides highlighted the role of the Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia in Kalimantan Timur and Yogyakarta’s experience with inter‑regional cultural exchange programs.