The Potentials of Gamelan as Education Tourism Media in Surakarta

Abstract

Gamelan is a type of traditional Javanese musical instrument that has existed since hundreds of years ago. This traditional Javanese musical instrument is increasingly in demand and studied by world musicians as an art of classical music. The specific purpose of this research is to know the potential of the gamelan as a medium of educational tourism. The location of this research is Kasunanan Palace and Pura Mangkunegaran. Both are located in Surakarta City as the center of traditional Javanese culture. The source of this research data are informants, cultural and tourism actors from inside and outside the Palace. Data analysis techniques were carried out using interactive models in a direct way in both primary locations and several supporting locations such as Taman Budaya Jawa Tengah, Beteng Vastenburg, and several existing art studios, namely: Metta Budaya and Soerya Soemirat Mangkunegaran. The results showed (1) Gamelan has the function of education in the fields of physical health, mental, ethical values, (2) Gamelan is very suitable to be used as a medium of educational tourism because of its function, value, and meaning for human civilization.