President director of InJourney Destination Management, Febrina Intan, emphasized that robust transportation connectivity is key for advancing Indonesia’s tourism sector.
“Essentially, a tourism destination will flourish when it is connected to overseas tourists. Thus, we fully understand that the development of a tourism destination heavily relies on its connectivity,” she said during an Indonesia-Poland business forum here on Thursday.
She noted that while Indonesia often boasts of its rich tourism assets, their full potential remains untapped due to inadequate transportation services.
Intan cited the Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, the largest Buddhist spiritual tourism site in Southeast Asia, as an example.
During the commemoration of Vesak Day every year, dozens of monks -- mostly from Thailand -- carry out a spiritual journey to the temple.
The journey is commonly called thudong, referring to ascetic practices aimed at strengthening self-discipline and inner peace. In Thai, it translates to walking (Thu Dong).
“Borobudur Temple is a spiritual tourism destination for Buddhists, but there are no direct flights from Bangkok to Yogyakarta,” she noted, referring to the Adisutjipto Airport and Yogyakarta International Airport in Yogyakarta, which are the nearest major airports to the temple.
She said that operating a direct flight between the two cities would make it easier for tourists and Buddhist pilgrims from around the world to visit Borobudur Temple and surrounding tourist destinations.
This would be in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision for the development of local tourism to boost national economic growth, she added.
Related news: Ministry boosts MSMEs' connectivity with large industries
Related news: Transportation connectivity also supports tourism growth: Minister
Reporter: M Zulfikar, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
