Operator to introduce zoning system at Borobudur Temple

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The operator of Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, planned to introduce a zoning system at the tourism site complex to optimize the temple's function in terms of the conservation, spiritual, education, and commercial aspects.

President Director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko (PT TWC) Edy Setijono stated that the zoning system would balance all aspects converged in the temple.

"Hence, there would be no more zoning conflicts, as we will rearrange the temple walking path plan. All aspects are catered at a specific location. For instance, spiritual activities would have their certain place," Setijono noted, as per the statement here, Saturday.

PT TWC is engaging in communication with all stakeholders to plan the new zoning system to ensure Borobudur Temple caters to all interests and to ascertain that not a single aspect is dominating the temple function, he emphasized.

Moreover, the joint statement of four cabinet ministers and two governors concurred to making Borobudur Temple as the centre of Buddhism activities in Indonesia and the world, the president director affirmed.

"We will ensure (Borobudur Temple is) catering to all functions, but we will arrange its (functional) priority scale," Setijono stated.

He said that as the zoning system is expected to be implemented later in 2023, the operator would first study and draft the plan before announcing the final plan to receive public input.

Meanwhile, the Religious Affairs Ministry's Director of Buddhist Community Guidance, Supriyadi, said that the plan must be thought out thoroughly and decided together, as it would affect various institutions.

He affirmed that the government had accentuated the need to conserve the ancient temple site and structure.

"A standard operating procedure has been made from the joint statement, and we will deliberate this again together. We hope there would be a solution for the Buddhist community and the government's interests," Supriyadi affirmed.

The ministry's official said that the authority should ensure that the temple's function in terms of the conservation, spiritual, education, and commercial aspects would be balanced.

"Moreover, our cultural heritage law mandated the Borobudur Temple to be used for religious purposes," he remarked.