2nd Borobudur International Conference

Interfaith Conference & Pilgrimage Tour 

The Inspiration for World Peace and Harmony

Borobudur, May 6, 2017. PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko (Persero) or PT TWC as the manager of Borobudur Temple has an obligation to preserve the nation's noble cultural heritage. As we know, Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple have been recognized as World Heritage by the UNESCO World Heritage Agency. Borobudur Temple belongs to all nations, so its existence should be utilized optimally by all people and all existing religions, so that the horizon of Borobudur can radiate to create peace for religious communities throughout the world.

The success of the “Borobudur International Conference 2016” event is the background for PT TWC to again hold the “2nd Borobudur International Conference – Interfaith Conference & Pilgrimage Tour” event ^which carries the theme ' The Inspiration for World Peace and Harmony ', of course by bringing the spirit of the majesty of Borobudur Temple. The 2nd ^Borobudur International Conference (BIC) event which will be held on May 6, 2017 is a collaboration between PT TWC, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Education & Culture and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises through the BUMN Sinergi Hadir Untuk Negeri (State-Owned Enterprises Synergy Present for the Nation).

With the theme " The Inspiration for World Peace and Harmony ," given the current turmoil in the country and the world, which threatens global peace and harmony among religious communities, participants are expected to gain knowledge and peace through the moral messages delivered by interfaith leaders, which can ultimately contribute to the creation of harmony and togetherness.

The President Director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko, Edy Setijono, revealed that the holding of the “Borobudur International Conference 2017” is an important forum, where religious leaders and various communities representing different beliefs, namely Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism will be present to dialogue and convey their views on social and humanitarian issues from the perspective of each religion for the sake of creating peace and harmony in life.

"We sincerely hope that this event will once again elevate the image of Borobudur Temple in the eyes of the world as a center for religious and cultural studies aimed at creating peace and prosperity for humanity throughout the world," said Edy Setijono.

Borobudur International Conference was held on May 6, 2017, close to the commemoration of Trisuci Waisak, which is expected to be a moment of enlightenment for all people. Presenting 5 religious figures in Indonesia, namely Prof. Dr. KH. Said Agil Siroj. MA (Islamic religious figure), Rev. Dr. Albertus Patty (Christian religious figure), Prof. Dr. Franz Magnis Suseno, SJ (Catholic religious figure), Major General TNI Wisnu Bawa Tenaya (Hindu), Bhikkhu Santacitto, P.hD (Buddhist), and Tibetan Buddhist religious figure from Nepal as Guest Speaker, namely HE Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche, a religious leader who holds a Doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy, Sutra and Tantric teachings. He will be the main speaker in the religious dialogue and will share about the sacred teachings of the Buddha in the Pilgrimage Tour. In this activity will also present the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Ir. Arief Yahya, M.Sc and the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, Drs. H. Lukman Hakim Saifudin as Keynote Speakers.

In addition to the conference, the culminating event of Vesak 2017 will also include a Sunrise Prayer and Pilgrimage Tour to several temples in Magelang and Yogyakarta. It is hoped that the presence of Borobudur Temple will inspire people from diverse disciplines to create innovative masterpieces that will also bring peace and a new awakening, representing the greatness of Borobudur Temple.

The "Borobudur International Conference 2017" activity has a vision and mission that it wants to achieve, namely:

Vision:                         

• Creating harmonious inter-religious relations in order to strengthen togetherness in diversity and build world peace.

Mission:

• Delivering moral messages that can provide enlightenment and peace to participants.
• Producing solutions to various religious issues.
• Providing space for the realization of religious tolerance in Indonesia.
• As an effort to maintain and preserve this very noble history.
• Increasing the attractiveness of Borobudur Temple in the eyes of local and international tourists as a place of religious pilgrimage as well as a cultural heritage that must be preserved.

Borobudur Temple is one of the main attractions for this event. It is hoped that this event will attract 2 million international tourists, supporting the government's target of attracting 20 million international tourists to Indonesia by 2019.