Borobudur Temple Entrance Ticket Prices

Borobudur Temple in Central Java is a concern when the entry fee will be increased. (Unasplash Photo)

The government through the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan finally announced that it was delaying the increase in the entrance fee to Borobudur Temple. Luhut postponed because the discourse he threw reaped the pros and cons.

Previously, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said he would increase the entrance fee to Borobudur Temple from Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 750 thousand. The plan to increase the ticket price is to limit tourists to Borobudur Temple by setting a quota of 1,200 tourists. Based on the quota policy, there will be a special price rule, for domestic tourists of Rp. 750,000, foreign tourists of 100 US dollars, and for students (school study tour groups / non-individual) Rp. 5,000.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan issued an idea for the price of admission to Borobudur Temple to be IDR 750 thousand based on an in-depth study. His party made a comprehensive study with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) so that the figure of Rp. 750 thousand came out.

According to him, Borobudur has experienced a reduction in altitude and damage so that the number of visitors will be limited to no more than 1,200 people per day as recommended by UNESCO.

With the opening of the toll road that will cross the Borobudur area in the future, Luhut estimates that around 26 million road users will pass and have the potential to visit Borobudur.

Luhut also emphasized that the determination of the Borobudur entrance ticket had considered these various possibilities, as well as being carried out to meet the needs of revitalizing the cultural heritage.

So far, the temple, which was built in the 8th century by the Shailendra dynasty, has undergone several renovations due to a number of damages. Even this temple, which is one of the world's cultural heritages according to UNESCO, was once the target of a bomb on January 21, 1985.

Preserving the preservation of global cultural heritage is a must. But this extraordinary increase is also surprising. It is inconceivable if a family consisting of a father, mother and two children to enter Borobudur Temple must spend Rp. 3 million. Really expensive. There is even a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives who said that the fees that domestic tourists must pay to enter Borobudur Temple are more expensive than the Regional Minimum Wage (UMR) of Central Java, the province where Borobudur Temple is located.

The plan to increase tariffs was announced after the COVID-19 pandemic slackened. At a time when the government is trying to increase economic activity. With such an expensive price, it is very possible that the number of visitors to Borobudur Temple will decrease. If it decreases, the economy around Borobudur Temple will also decline.

Just for the record, the entrance fee of IDR 750 thousand per person is the most expensive compared to the entrance fee for historical heritage in various countries. As written by voi.id, the price of admission to the Accropolis site along with 5 other Greek sites, the total ticket price is only €30 or around Rp.464,000.

Likewise with world heritage sites in Italy. The price of admission to the 3 main sites, namely the Collosseum, Forum and Palatio, costs €18 or around IDR 278,000.

Not much different from other famous sites in the world, namely the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India, where the entrance ticket is only $25 - $30 or around Rp. 360,000 - Rp. 433,000, which includes a guide package or photo service.

Well, all agree to preserve the cultural heritage that is thousands of years old by limiting visitors from overcrowding. However, instead of limiting it by increasing the entrance fee, it is not a wise move. There are many ways that can be done. For example by limiting the number of visitors in one area. With a certain quota and time. So that visitors take turns entering.

About the price of the entrance fee. Raising the tariff from Rp. 50 thousand is okay. Just don't be too expensive. Must take into account the situation and condition of the average income of the Indonesian population. Or even Central Java where Borobudur Temple is located. Moreover, Borobudur Temple, apart from being a cultural heritage, is also still a place of worship and is used for Buddhist religious rituals.

How to introduce to the younger generation if the entrance ticket is expensive? How can the younger generation love the relics of their ancestors if they never enter because they are not affordable?

So, delaying the increase in entrance fees for Borobudur Temple is indeed appropriate. It would be more appropriate and wise if the increase of up to Rp. 750 thousand per person was cancelled. Again, going up is fine. But please consider the value.