Waisak Celebration Increases Tourist Visits to Borobudur Temple
Borobudur Temple successfully held the national celebration of Tri Suci Waisak 2568 BE/2024 on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Through this celebration, tens of thousands of visitors witnessed a series of Waisak celebration events, including the release of thousands of lanterns which are the icon of National Waisak at Borobudur Temple.
It was recorded that from May 20-25, 2024, more than 75 thousand visitors visited Borobudur Temple, including Buddhists celebrating Waisak as well as tourist visits. This number increased by around 63% from the Waisak celebration at Borobudur Temple in the previous year where the number of visits the previous year was at 46 thousand visits.
"During the celebration of Waisak and the joint leave holiday this time, Borobudur Temple recorded more than 75 thousand visits or an increase of 63% from the previous year. We also received many positive responses from visitors regarding the implementation of Waisak and the release of lanterns which this year were considered more solemn, including several side events that were presented to fill the long weekend of Waisak," said InJourney Destination Management Marketing and Business Development Director Hetty Herawati in a written statement, Monday (27/5/2024).
"The increase in visits to Borobudur during the Waisak event also increases the economic impact on the surrounding community. Airline, train, hotel and homestay tickets around Borobudur are sold out, even an increase in hotel occupancy also occurred in Jogja and its surroundings. We are committed to continuing to encourage spiritual-based events & programs in Borobudur as an effort to strengthen its potential as a spiritual destination and the world's Buddhist epicentrum," he added.
The success of the 2568 BE Waisak celebration also further solidified Borobudur Temple as the epicenter of Buddhists as well as a tourism destination to be reckoned with in the eyes of the world.
"The 2568 BE Waisak celebration was not only attended by tens of thousands of Buddhists, but also managed to attract tens of thousands of visitors to Borobudur Temple. This is something extraordinary because it shows a beautiful harmony amidst the diversity in Indonesia," said Director of Marketing and Tourism Programs of PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero) or InJourney Maya Watono.
"This success also confirms the position of Borobudur Temple as one of the epicenters of world Buddhists that attracts religious tourism or spiritual tourism from tourists from various parts of the world," he added.
Meanwhile, the peak of the celebration was enlivened by the Waisak Parade from Mendut Temple to Borobudur Temple, commemoration of the Waisak moments, pradaksina of Borobudur Temple, and the release of Waisak lanterns. Not only that, mindful walking meditation was also carried out, namely an activity to feel the sacredness of Borobudur Temple through pradaksina and meditation which can be followed by the general public on May 24-25, 2024.
"InJourney would like to thank the community who have attended and helped make the 2024 Waisak celebration a success. We hope that visitors will have an impressive spiritual tourism experience by participating in the 2024 Waisak celebration. In the future, InJourney hopes to be able to present various other excitements so that Borobudur Temple will increasingly become the pride of the entire community and provide a large multiplier effect on the Indonesian economy," concluded Maya.
