The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, together with various ministries, agencies and local governments, has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the use of Prambanan, Borobudur, Mendut and Pawon Temples for religious purposes by Hindu and Buddhist communities in Indonesia and around the world.
The MoU was signed by Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, together with Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar; Director of Cultural Value Empowerment and Intellectual Property Facilitation at the Indonesian Ministry of Culture I Made Dharma Suteja; Deputy for Value Enhancement of State-Owned Enterprises Endra Gunawan; Deputy Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Aryo (KGPAA) Paku Alam X; and Deputy Governor of Central Java Taj Yasin Maimoen, at the office of the Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Jakarta on Thursday, 17th of September.
Wardhana stated that this strategic synergy reinforces the government’s commitment to strengthening the standing of Prambanan, Borobudur, Mendut and Pawon Temples as world-class religious and spiritual tourism destinations, while prioritising the preservation of cultural heritage.
“This update and addendum were undertaken to align with current governance dynamics, particularly regarding nomenclature adjustments within the existing structures of ministries and agencies. Furthermore, this update refines the scope of cooperation to ensure it is more adaptive, relevant, and responsive to the future evolution of tourism development in the temple area,” she said.
The scope of the cooperation encompasses the utilisation of Prambanan Temple as a place of worship for Hindus, and Borobudur, Mendut and Pawon Temples as places of worship for Buddhists. Moreover, these four sites are also intended to become high-quality, sustainable hubs for Tirtha Yatra Hindu and Dharmayatra Buddha; centres for the development of religious, cultural and spiritual tourism; and centres for research and innovation in the fields of religion, history, art and culture, while also fostering local community empowerment.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno expressed his appreciation for the commitment of all parties.
“Therefore, we invite all segments of society to join hands in ensuring that the faithful can worship in peace and solemnity. Tourists can enjoy historical and cultural heritage through meaningful experiences, while the local community, the regional economy, and even the national economy can grow,” he said as well.
Additionally, Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar stated that the four temples are expected to be designed with multifunctionality and comprehensive objectives in mind. Furthermore, religious interests will remain a primary focus in the management of these sites.
“It is hoped that—God willing—these temples will be designed to be multifunctional and serve comprehensive purposes, including religious needs,” the Minister said in his statement.