Exploring the Visiting Trends and Educational Activities at Museum Kesultanan Bulungan, Indonesia

Museums play a pivotal role in educational settings by serving as platforms for exploring history and local culture. Nevertheless, a disparity exists between national museums and their regional counterparts. Regional museums often lack comprehensive educational programming and are primarily viewed through the lens of tourism. Addressing this imbalance necessitates enhancements in educational initiatives within regional museums. However, a thorough analysis of visitor trends is imperative before implementing reforms. In this study, we focus on a museum situated on the island of Borneo, specifically in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia, to contextualize our investigation. This study analyzed the visiting trend and educational activities at the Museum Kesultanan Bulungan in Indonesia from June to December 2022. We used a quantitative approach as a primary approach by focusing on the number of visitors and gathering qualitative information as part of validity through observations and interviews with museum managers. The study found that regular tourism visits dominated educational visits, with seasonal educational activities confined to specific months. Most visitors come from the North Kalimantan region, indicating that the museum primarily caters to the local population. However, the study also suggests the potential to expand its outreach to visitors from other regions of Indonesia and internationally. Students from senior high school, junior high school, and elementary school dominated the number of visitors engaging in educational activities, with field studies being the most common. The study provides insights into the patterns of museum visits and educational activities at Museum Kesultanan Bulungan and suggests ways to improve its outreach and educational offerings. Drawing upon the findings of our study, we propose several recommendations