InJourney Provides Photography Training for Photographers at TWC Destinations

InJourney Destination Management (IDM), through its ‘InJourney Community Care’ programme, has provided photography training for photographers at the Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko temple tourist parks. The training was attended by 76 members of the Borobudur Tourism Cooperative (Kopari) and 32 members of the Prambanan Photographer Tourism Cooperative (Kopapra), who are integral to the service ecosystem in these areas.

General Manager of Prambanan and Ratu Boko IDM, Leonardus Adityo Nugroho, stated in Yogyakarta on Thursday that the activity is part of IDM’s efforts to enhance tourism human resources and strengthen service quality at the world heritage destinations. He noted that photography plays a strategic role in the modern tourism industry, serving not only as documentation but also as a medium to deliver experiences and stories to visitors.

‘Photography does not merely produce documentation, but is a medium that can convey stories, build a destination’s image, and introduce Indonesia’s cultural richness to the world,’ he said. He added that every photo taken can be a window connecting tourists with the historical values, culture, and beauty of Prambanan Temple.

Adityo highlighted that regeneration is a key focus, with the youngest member of the community being 19 years old and the most senior around 70. He acknowledged that the biggest challenge is keeping up with evolving technology, photography trends, and visual styles, making competency enhancement essential. He affirmed IDM’s commitment to empowering communities around destinations through various training and capacity-building programmes.

It is hoped that improving the photographers’ competencies will result in more professional services, enhance the tourist experience, and strengthen the positive image of Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko as quality world cultural heritage destinations. The training instructors included Kompas daily photographer Ferganata Indra for the Prambanan group and ANTARA news agency photographer Anis Efizudin for the Borobudur group. Participants also received training on excellent service (hospitality) relevant to their interactions with visitors, with an emphasis on strengthening service quality, communication with tourists, and the ability to build visual narratives that enhance the destination’s image.

Commercial Group Head of PT Taman Wisata Borobudur, AY Suhartanto, encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions during the training to exchange experiences and broaden their understanding of quality tourism services.