InJourney: Prambanan Restoration Strengthens Indonesia's Position as a World Cultural Destination

Head of Museum and Cultural Heritage - Esti Nurjadin, CEO of InJourney - Maya Watono and TWC CEO - Febrina Intan/doc. InJourney

JAKARTA - PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero) or InJourney assesses that the cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of India in the conservation and restoration program of Prambanan Temple will strengthen Indonesia's position as a world-class cultural destination.

The conservation program was marked by a visit by President Prabowo Subianto with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Prambanan Temple Complex on Wednesday, July 8. The two countries agreed to carry out a long-term conservation program through the restoration of 224 perwara temples or companion temples in the Prambanan Temple area.

InJourney's President Director Maya Watono said the collaboration was an important momentum to strengthen Indonesia's national branding as a cultural destination that is able to manage world heritage sustainably through international partnerships.

"This momentum is part of efforts to strengthen Indonesia's nation branding as a world-class cultural destination that is able to manage cultural heritage sustainably through international partnerships. We are optimistic that this collaboration will increase Indonesia's appeal, especially in the Indian market which has a population of 1.4 billion, as well as encouraging the growth of quality inbound tourism," said Maya in an official statement, Thursday, July 9.

According to Maya, this collaboration shows how cultural heritage can be an effective medium to strengthen inter-state relations while creating wider benefits for the Indonesian tourism sector.

"In the end, the preservation of cultural heritage must provide real benefits to the community through the creation of jobs, the growth of MSMEs and creative economy, and the improvement of the welfare of the community around the destination," explained Maya.

Conservation programs will be carried out through scientific approaches, ranging from archaeological research, digital documentation, artificial intelligence (AI) based reconstruction, to the exchange of knowledge and capacity building for Indonesian and Indian conservators.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Prambanan Temple is a place that showcases a shared cultural heritage between India and Indonesia.

"The cultural heritage of this nation reminds us of the fragrance of the cultural heritage we have in India. And it is this cultural heritage that unites our two countries. For more than 1,200 years, the people of this country have preserved this cultural heritage with commitment, perseverance, and dedication," said Modi.

Conservation Still Preserves the Authenticity of Prambanan Temple

Meanwhile, the Head of the Museum and Cultural Heritage (MCB) Esti Nurjadin emphasized that the conservation process would continue to prioritize the principles of authenticity, integrity, and scientific approaches so that the universal value of Prambanan Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is maintained.

"All work will prioritize authenticity, integrity, and a scientific approach. In addition, the success of this cooperation is not only measured by the number of artifacts that are conserved but also by the improvement of Indonesian conservators' capacity, the development of science-based conservation practices, and the maintenance of the world heritage value of Prambanan," said Esti.

In line with this, the President Director of InJourney Destination Management, Febrina Intan, said that since it was designated as a center for Indonesian and world Hindu houses of worship in 2022, this area is not only seen as a tourist attraction or archaeological site, but also as a space for cultural diplomacy, spirituality, education, and international cooperation that brings together various countries in the spirit of preserving world heritage.

Febrina said India is one of the potential markets for Indonesian tourism. Currently, the average number of Indian tourists visiting the Prambanan Temple area reaches almost 4,000 people per year.

According to him, the visit of the Indian Prime Minister is expected to be a momentum to increase the interest of Indian tourists to visit Indonesia, especially to Prambanan Temple which attracts around 2.4 million domestic and foreign tourists every year.

"The momentum of the visit of the Prime Minister of India is expected to be a catalyst for increasing the interest of Indian tourists to visit Indonesia, especially to Prambanan Temple. We hope that the acceleration of the restoration of the Prambanan area will further strengthen the attractiveness of this destination in the eyes of the world, especially for tourists from India who have historical and cultural closeness to this area," said Febrina.