The Use Of Special Sandals For Riding To Borobudur Begins To Be Tried

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The use of sandals (upanat) specifically for going up to Borobudur Temple in Magelang Regency, Central Java, has begun to be tested on a number of guests led by the Deputy Secretary for Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordination Rustam Efendi.

Rustam Efendi said wearing special sandals to go up to Borobudur Temple is part of preserving the temple. Do not let the arrival of tourists damage the stone temple.

"If there are no preventive measures, it is feared that this world heritage that we are proud of will be further damaged," he said, Wednesday, January 26, quoted from Antara.

He conveyed this after testing the Borobudur special sandals as well as testing the thematic tourism activity "Borobudur Travel Pattern" which was initiated by PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko (TWC), Borobudur Conservation Center (BKB), and the Regency Government. Magelang.

During the visit, Rustam Efendi was accompanied by Marketing & Sales Vice President of PT TWC Pujo Suwarno and Head of Borobudur Conservation Center Wiwit Kasiyati.

According to him, the special Borobudur sandals are comfortable, light, and comfortable to wear, even though they have pandanus woven, but they are still soft.

These special Borobudur sandals are produced by local people and this is part of the economic impact or multiple impacts for the welfare of the community, because they are not imported goods.

"These sandals are not imported from other areas, but empower local communities with local raw materials to work so that they can be sold and can provide income for the community. The more visitors the needs are also increasing," he said.

He conveyed that the multiplier impact will be even greater and that is what the people around Borobudur hope to be able to enjoy Borobudur with all its facilities that provide welfare for the community.

"Thus the sense of belonging to Borobudur Temple will be even greater when the impact felt by the community is also greater. It turns out that Borobudur is not a dead temple, but can bring tourists and revive the local community's economy," he said.

Pujo Suwarno said that PT TWC together with BKB and the Magelang Regency Youth and Sports Tourism Office prepared thematic tourism activities for tourists to Borobudur.

"In addition to the themes that have been prepared by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy some time ago, we are trying to find out how the potential that exists in zone 1, zone 2, zone 3, zone 4 and outside the existing zone can have thematic activities to provide experiences to tourists. Borobudur in the future," said Pujo Suwarno.