According to him, the arrangement and preservation of the Borobudur Temple complex would be sustainable and empower the economy of the surrounding community.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir is seeking to ensure that the transformation of the Borobudur Temple complex makes the heritage site a world-class spiritual, cultural, and educational tourism destination.

According to him, the arrangement and preservation of the Borobudur Temple complex would be sustainable and empower the economy of the surrounding community.

"Borobudur is a world heritage that must be managed with a clear vision and strong commitment. This development is not merely for tourism, but also to create an economic impact for the community, especially MSMEs," he said in a statement released by his office on Tuesday.

He then highlighted the direct impact of the development of the Borobudur area on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Thohir said that the increase in the number of visitors and the optimization of the Borobudur area has brought improvement for local business actors, including in their income, and strengthened their competitiveness in the creative economy sector.

"We are delighted to see the direct economic impact felt by the local community. The increase in income of MSMEs around the Borobudur area is the result of our commitment to creating an inclusive economic ecosystem," the minister added.

The development of the Borobudur area also includes the transformation of museums into more dynamic educational and cultural centers, he said.

The Borobudur Museum is now designed to showcase the values that have shaped the Indonesian civilization.

Thohir said that the government is continuing to improve accessibility for international tourists by opening direct flight routes to Yogyakarta.

This is expected to increase the attractiveness of Borobudur as an international destination and encourage foreign tourists to visit the temple.

"Indonesia has great tourism potential. Our infrastructure and accessibility should be ready to compete with other countries," he emphasized.

In terms of sustainability, the development of Zone 2, which includes the 60.89-hectare Heritage Park, emphasizes the preservation of the site and its ecosystem.

Thohir informed that Borobudur will have several clusters such as the Borobudur Spiritual Sanctuary (BSS) and the Flora & Nursery Park, which combine spiritual, educational, and cultural tourism.

"This development must be in line with environmental preservation and the historical value of Borobudur, in accordance with UNESCO's recommendations to maintain the outstanding universal value (OUV) of this site," he said.

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Translator: Maria Cicilia G P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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