...if they (the villages) have the potential, we will support them.
Temanggung, C Java (ANTARA) - Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono inaugurated the Umbul Jumprit area, one of religious tourism attraction in Temanggung District, Central Java Province, which had been revitalized.

"This is one of PUPR Ministry's programs on tourism destination management," he said here on Saturday.

The Umbul Jumprit, which is a water spring, is used every year by Buddhists for the ritual of collecting holy water during the Vesak celebration.

The revitalization of the Umbul Jumprit, which cost Rp3.6 billion, is expected to advance the development of religious tourism in the region and increase the comfort of visitors during their pilgrimages.

The minister has emphasized that not only the Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) areas, such as Lake Toba, Borobudur, Mandalika and Labuhan Bajo, which are being revitalized, but also various tourism villages, such as the Umbul Jumprit area.

Furthermore, he has noted that Umbul Jumprit is not the only tourism village developed by the government, as there are many large and potential tourism villages in other regions which have also been revamped.

"If there are recommendations (on which villages should be revitalized), especially (the inputs) from the members of the DPR RI (Indonesian House of Representatives) from their constituencies, if they (the villages) have the potential, we will support them," he remarked.

The PUPR Ministry has also constructed water pipes in Umbul Jumprit to distribute clean water to a number of villages around the water spring.

In addition, Hadimuljono said that the PUPR Ministry had also build a reuse, reduce, and recycle waste management site (TPS3R) to maintain cleanliness of the religious tourism destination.

For instance, a lot of TPS3R had also been provided at the Borobudur Temple DPSP, another religious tourism attraction for Buddhists in Indonesia.

Apart of revitalizing religious tourism destinations, the ministry has also contributed in the development of religious communities in Indonesia by building a number of students flats for religious boarding schools and universities.

"Not only for the Islamic ones, but we also support (education institutions of) other religions, (we build the flats) in Kalimantan, Flores, Merauke, Jayapura, and other regions to facilitate the implementation of character education," the minister said.

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Translator: Heru Suyitno, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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