Reorganization of Borobudur Temple Area Expected to Have Significant Impact on Economy in the Region

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko (PT TWC) or now known as InJourney Destination Management (IDM) is preparing to rearrange or remaster plan destination area Borobudur temple which is located in the Regency Magelang, Central Java.

InJourney Destination Management President Director Febrina Intan said, in addition to increasing the green open space in the Borobudur Temple complex, this arrangement also prepares a number of new and modern facilities. These facilities include landscaped gardens, museums, and the Borobudur Art Village. Visitors will be able to experience a more diverse experience, from art performances to comfortable rest areas.

“To get to the temple area, visitors are given two options, climbing electric-vehicle (EV) or walking. In the future, we will build a pedestrian so that visitors can walk more comfortably and under the shade of shady trees. On the journey of about 1000-1200 meters from KSB to the temple, we provide a refreshment area. You can sit there so that walking does not feel tiring," he explained.

With an area of ​​10,74 hectares, Borobudur Art Village is equipped with various comfortable public facilities, such as toilets, places of worship, and culinary centers. Tourists can also enjoy art galleries, amphitheaters, museums, pendopos, as well as centers for UMKM products and typical crafts that can be used as authentic souvenirs characteristic of the Borobudur area.

"Currently, we have completed about 80 percent, in phase I. This development will continue towards Borobudur. Spiritual Sanctuary, which we plan to take place in three stages. God willing, by the middle of next year, it will be fully functional," he continued.

InJourney Marketing and Tourism Program Director Maya Watono revealed that the re-arrangement of the Borobudur area was aimed at increasing visits by foreign tourists, especially Buddhists, whose numbers are quite large in the world. For the Southeast Asian region itself, the population of Buddhists Buddha The largest is in Thailand which reaches 64 million people.

"Buddhists in the world are around 490 million people, most of whom are spread across Asia, especially Southeast Asia. If we can take 3 percent of the 64 million tourists from Thailand who want to come to Borobudur, it will have a significant impact on the regional economy, especially Magelang and Central Java," said Maya Watono, Thursday, September 19, 2024.

As for remaster plan Borobudur will cover a number of main aspects. First, it starts with management improvements. The management of the Borobudur area will no longer be mixed with the management of other destinations managed by InJourney Destination Management (IDM) or PT TWC such as Prambanan Temple and Ratu Boko. Borobudur will be managed individually single authority management or individually through a new organization called Taman Wisata Borobudur or TWB. 

"The decree on the management of Borobudur in general single authority management "It has been signed by the President (Joko Widodo) as of today," he said.

The restructuring of Borobudur Temple prioritizes four main pillars, namely the pillars of conservation, greening, spirituality, and education. remaster plan Borobudur will cover a number of key aspects.

First, it begins with management improvements. The management of the Borobudur area will no longer be mixed with the management of other destinations managed by InJourney Destination Management (IDM) or PT TWC such as Prambanan Temple and Ratu Boko. Borobudur will be managed separately. single authority management or individually through a new organization called Taman Wisata Borobudur or TWB. 

Second, the arrangement of access in and out of Borobudur Temple. In this arrangement, the relocation was carried out maingate or the main gate of the entrance to Borobudur. Third, IDM will also build a kind of spiritual meditation center in the Borobudur Temple complex. This meditation center is intended for the community, especially Buddhists, to pray while visiting the temple.

Fourth, IDM will also return the Basic Building Coefficient (KDB) figure around Borobudur Temple below 4 percent or to 3,9 percent according to Unesco's recommendation. "We maintain this KDB because it prioritizes the green concept, so we increase greening," he said.

The arrangement of Borobudur also considers the educational aspect. So the museum in the Borobudur complex is important to be rearranged. Borobudur Art Village as the new epicentrum in Borobudur temple presents an attractive museum with interesting collections. In addition, PT TWC also presents Virtual Reality (VR) games that add to the attraction of the museum.

"Purpose from the Borobudur museum is so that people before going up to Borobudur Temple, they know the history of Borobudur, so that Borobudur is not just a photo background. How it was built, how it was discovered, how to maintain and preserve it, we present it in this museum. We hope that the experience at the Borobudur museum, visitors do not need to go up, so that the structure of the temple is also maintained," concluded Febrina Intan.