InJourney Community Care Presents Photography Training for Photographers at the Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko Temple Tourism Parks

InJourney Destination Management (IDM), through its InJourney Community Care program, is holding photography training for photographers in the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park, Prambanan Temple, and Ratu Boko Palace. This activity is part of IDM's efforts to increase the capacity of tourism human resources and strengthen service quality at world heritage destinations.

This training was attended by 76 members of the Borobudur Tourism Cooperative (Kopari) and 32 members of the Prambanan Photographers Tourism Cooperative (Kopapra), which have been an important part of the tourism service ecosystem in the Temple Tourism Park area. 

Prambanan and Ratu Boko General Manager Leonardus Adityo Nugroho said that photography plays a strategic role in the modern tourism industry because it not only serves as documentation but also as a medium that can provide experiences and stories for tourists.

"Photography isn't just about producing documentation; it's a medium that can tell stories, build destination imagery, and introduce Indonesia's rich culture to the world. Every photo can serve as a window connecting tourists to the historical, cultural, and beautiful values ​​of Prambanan Temple," he said on Wednesday (June 18, 2026).

The Prambanan photographer training session was delivered by Kompas Daily photographer Ferganata Indra, while the Borobudur photographer training session was delivered by ANTARA National News Agency (LKBN) photographer Anis Efizudin.

In addition to photography material, participants also received material related to excellent service (hospitality) relevant to the needs of travel photographers when interacting directly with visitors. The training also emphasizes strengthening excellent service, communication with tourists, and the ability to build visual narratives that strengthen the destination's image.

Through this activity, participants have the opportunity to update their knowledge, discuss, and share experiences regarding developments in the world of travel photography and service standards in world-class destinations.

According to the General Manager of Prambanan and Ratu Boko, the presence of tourist photographers is an important element that interacts directly with visitors and helps shape the tourist experience during their stay at the destination area.

"Prambanan Temple needs the support of photographers who not only possess the technical skills to produce good images but also possess an understanding of the narrative they wish to convey through each visual work. Through this training, we hope photographers will gain a deeper understanding of how to capture moments while presenting stories that enhance the destination's appeal," he added.

Commercial Group Head of PT Taman Wisata Borobudur, AY Suhartanto, encouraged participants to actively discuss during the training so they could exchange experiences and enrich their insights regarding quality tourism services.

“Besides photography skills, the aspect hospitality "This is also very important. We hope that tourist photographers can refresh their minds and remember their role and function at Borobudur, namely to create memorable memories for tourists. The resulting photographs are not merely documentation, but part of the experience and value that each visitor takes home," explained Suhartanto.

One of the members of the Prambanan Tourism Photographers Cooperative, Budaya, said that this training provided new insights that could improve the quality of service as well as the professionalism of tourism photographers. 

"Through this training, we gained a lot of new knowledge that will improve our performance in serving tourists visiting Prambanan Temple. We want to provide the best service possible so that visitors are satisfied and have a pleasant experience during their visit," he said.

He revealed that one of the challenges facing travel photographers today is the increasing expectations of tourists regarding the quality of service and the results of the photos they receive.

"This training helped us understand our strengths and weaknesses. This evaluation provides us with the tools to improve our service quality, from welcoming tourists, communicating effectively, being polite, to providing clear information about photography services. We hope that tourists will feel comfortable, at home, and want to return to Prambanan Temple," he said.

The Chairman of the Prambanan Tourism Photographers Cooperative (Kopapra), R Jarot Wuryanto, explained that the profession of tourist photographer in the Prambanan area has developed for more than three decades and continues to adapt to technological developments.

"Tourist photographers in Prambanan have been around since 1994. At that time, we were still using analog and Polaroid cameras. Technological advancements then prompted us to switch to digital systems in the late 1990s. We always follow every technological change through various training programs so that our members can continue to develop," he explained.

To date, Kopapra has 32 members divided into two service zones within the tourist area. Membership ranges in age from 19 to 70. As part of its efforts to improve service quality, Kopapra also plans to gradually upgrade its photography equipment, deemed more suited to current consumer needs.

"Regeneration is one of our focuses. The youngest member is currently 19 years old, while the most senior is around 70. The biggest challenge we face is keeping up with ever-changing technology, photography trends, and visual styles. Therefore, competency development is a crucial need," he said.

Borobudur Tourism Cooperative (Kopari) member Aan Suyitno welcomed the initiative and expressed his appreciation to InJourney Destination Management and the tutors who have provided a learning space for travel photographers.

"We are very grateful to InJourney and the tutors for giving us the opportunity to discuss photography and customer service. We hope the knowledge we gained will be beneficial and improve the quality of our work in the field," said Aan.

Aan explained that the Borobudur tourism photography community has been growing for decades. Initially, the photographers were members of an association called Bina Sejahtera, before later joining the Borobudur Cooperative. 

As the organization developed, the idea emerged to establish its own cooperative, which was then established in 1996 under the name Catra Gemilang Borobudur Tourism Cooperative.

"Currently, the photography unit under the Catra Gemilang Borobudur Tourism Cooperative has 76 members, with four reserve members. Regeneration is ongoing, and some of the profession has even been passed down to the third generation. Some of the pioneers are still active and remain active today," he said.

InJourney Destination Management is committed to empowering communities surrounding destinations through various training and capacity-building programs. It is hoped that improving the competency of these travel photographers will not only result in more professional services but also strengthen the tourist experience and the positive image of the Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko Temples as quality world heritage destinations.