Central Java strengthens Borobudur Temple's position as a global religious centre
Semarang (ANTARA) - The Central Java provincial government, together with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, is working to strengthen the position of Borobudur Temple and three other temples as global religious centres.
Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen in Semarang on Tuesday stated that the renewal of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the utilisation of Borobudur, Prambanan, Mendut, and Pawon temples is being finalised.
This step aims to reinforce the position of these four temples as global worship centres for Hindus and Buddhists, while serving as engines for sustainable tourism.
According to him, the renewal of the MoU is very urgent, given that the 2021-2026 agreement period is about to end.
He said the new agreement must be more implementative and provide ease for the faithful to worship.
“We are pushing for this MoU to be extended. We also discussed what can advance tourism at these four temples,” he said, while receiving a visit from the Coordinating Team of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
In that meeting, the figure familiarly known as Gus Yasin provided strategic notes so that development is not only focused on the Main Zone.
He requested that other temples in Central Java, such as those in the Tawangmangu area (Karanganyar) and Wonosobo, be integrated into a single national tourism promotion package.
“I request that the temples in Karanganyar and Wonosobo be included as a unified attraction. This will strengthen the promotional narrative for Central Java on the international stage,” he said.
He believes this opportunity is increasingly wide open with the resumption of operations at General Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang for international routes.
Currently, direct flights from Singapore and Malaysia are available, which are expected to reduce travel time for religious tourists to Central Java.
On that occasion, one interesting point discussed was the significant potential of the Thai tourist market.
Based on input from site managers, there is a strong trend in Thailand where parents encourage their young generation to undertake spiritual journeys to Borobudur Temple.
Meanwhile, Assistant Deputy for Tourism Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Herfan Brilianto Mursabdo, appreciated the proactive steps of the Central Java provincial government.
According to him, the central government’s current focus is to perfect the MoU so that religious activities can run harmoniously with cultural heritage preservation and improvements in local community welfare.
“The global market share for Hindu-Buddhist religious and pilgrimage tourism is very large. Our future focus is to ensure that Borobudur Temple and its surroundings truly provide tangible benefits for the people’s economy,” he said.