ASEAN IIDC Cultural Visit, Understanding Harmony Through the Nation's Cultural HeritageASEAN IIDC Cultural Visit,

Nahdlatul Ulama University (UNU) Yogyakarta with full support from PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko (TWC) hosted the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference (IIDC) 2023 Cultural Visit.

This event is a travel agenda as part of the ASEAN IIDC 2023 series held by the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) in creating global peace, harmony, and stability, through the role of religion.

ASEAN IIDC 2023 Cultural Visit was held on 4-5 August 2023, consisting of a series of Gala Dinner on Friday night and a visit to Borobudur Temple on Saturday morning. This agenda was attended by around 30 participants, namely religious figures, rectors, and academics from within and outside the country.

ASEAN IIDC 2023 Cultural Visit is expected to provide benefits for participants, namely to strengthen understanding of history and culture, appreciate art and architecture, provide spiritual experiences, encourage tourism development, and support cultural preservation. All trips on this agenda are also exclusive opportunities for participants to network and strengthen friendships between countries.

"ASEAN IIDC 2023 is an extraordinary agenda to facilitate intercultural dialogue, scientific collaboration, and valuable knowledge exchange among academic communities and practitioners from various countries in the ASEAN region. UNU Yogyakarta is very proud to be involved in this great and historic agenda," said Widya Priyahita, Rector of UNU Yogyakarta.

He explained that one of the highlights of the event was the Cultural Visit to Borobudur Temple. Participants were invited to explore this Indonesian cultural heritage. "This visit is expected to provide inspiration and a valuable opportunity for participants to experience the rich history, art, and spirituality that underpin this historic site," he explained.

The Rector of UNU Yogyakarta hopes that this event will be an important bridge to strengthen international relations, promote peace friendship, and encourage sustainable scientific cooperation in the ASEAN region. "The spirit of ASEAN IIDC 2023 is the spirit of collaboration, inclusiveness, and mutual understanding," said Widya.

The President Director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko (TWC), Febrina Intan, welcomed this agenda. "Borobudur Temple is a framework that weaves the spirit of tolerance and togetherness to realize Harmony in Diversity . As a heritage tourism destination manager , PT TWC is committed to presenting a representative and professional tourist destination for the Indonesian people through the spirit of " Heritage in Harmony ". The Heritage in Harmony vision represents a tourist destination that reflects cultural diversity, with heritage values , spirituality, and an attitude of tolerance in Indonesia," she said.

Febrina Intan also stated that PT TWC is fully committed to managing quality and sustainable heritage and cultural destinations . PT TWC operates on four pillars of tourism destination management: Conservation, Spirituality, Education, and Tourism.

To support the Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) Borobudur towards Quality & Sustainable Tourism , PT TWC always synergizes and collaborates with relevant stakeholders . Both in Spiritual Tourism, Sport Tourism, Education, Culture & Community Based on Development activities , etc. "We welcome the ASEAN IIDC 2023 Cultural Visit agenda at Borobudur Temple. Hopefully, through this visit, it can provide in-depth insight into the beauty of the cultural diversity and spirituality of Borobudur Temple and the region. Considering that Borobudur Temple is a window to the world, where we can learn the rules of life, which are carved in each of its reliefs, thus providing inspiration for us," said Febrina Intan.

Febrina Intan stated that PT TWC supports religious activities at destinations managed by PT TWC, including Borobudur Temple. This is a concrete manifestation of the growth of Spiritual Tourism activities in the Borobudur Temple area. Through Spiritual Tourism , religious activities at PT TWC destinations also support the Quality and Sustainable Tourism program , which can have an economic impact on the community and the surrounding environment. This is in line with PT TWC's commitment to developing the Borobudur Temple area based on four pillars: Education, Conservation, Spirituality, and Tourism.

Through various synergies, PT TWC supports efforts to develop and promote spiritual tourism at Borobudur Temple. It is hoped that these religious activities will foster harmony, both within the individual and within the universe, among individuals and within diversity, and among all relevant stakeholders , both communities and institutions, who share the same goal of preserving and maintaining Borobudur Temple, a source of pride for the Indonesian nation.

A large enough diversity covers and colors the life process of the community around Borobudur. The relief of Borobudur Temple also visualizes the diverse activities of community life, meaning that there is a local culture that is still maintained even though cultural acculturation has occurred.

Participants of the ASEAN IIDC 2023 Cultural Visit consisting of a number of religious figures and academics seemed enthusiastic about participating in this program. The delegate from Austria, Ruediger Lohlker, admitted that he gained many ideas from this agenda, especially for his field of study. "This visit to Borobudur Temple inspired me to start thinking about new scientific approaches and new scientific projects in the future," said the professor in Islamic Studies from the University of Vienna.

Meanwhile, a participant from Timor Leste, Martinho G Gusmao, even stated that the visit to Borobudur Temple was a beautiful religious experience. "This experience changes the paradigm of how we see religious and cultural diversity. Faith grows in one culture and that culture becomes fertile because of the experience of faith. This is what I feel strongly today," he said.

Furthermore, Borobudur Temple can be considered as the root of the growth of harmony across religions and cultures in Indonesia. "Indonesia is the meeting point of these two poles and is a home for diversity. This is very beautiful," he explained.

The participants of the ASEAN IIDC Cultural Visit 2023 also contributed to the writing of the book “Proceedings of the R20 International Summit of Religious Leaders”. This book is the result of the R20 Religious Forum held by PBNU in November 2022. The book, which voices the values ​​of shared civilization from religious perspectives, was launched a day before the visit to Borobudur Temple.