Branding by the Kalimas River: Positioning Surabaya as Indonesia’s Leading Waterfront City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v13.n2.1701Keywords:
Kalimas River, City Branding, Waterfront Revitalization, Sustainable Urban Development, Place-Based IdentityAbstract
The development of waterfront city areas has become a sustainable approach for enhancing the potential of strategic urban regions. In this context, city branding provides a unique identity for a city, influencing its appeal to residents, tourists, businesses, and investors. The Kalimas River, the largest river in Surabaya, Indonesia, holds historical and iconic significance for the city. This study explores efforts to reorganize and revitalize the Kalimas River as a distinctive feature that can serve as a branding element using the waterfront city concept. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, utilizing a case study approach. Data collection included in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with local government representatives, academics, and industry players, as well as documentation and direct field observations. The findings reveal that the Kalimas River has significant potential to serve as a unique brand for Surabaya City. Collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to strengthen the city's brand image to realize this potential sustainably.
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