Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan announced that the government would increase the ticket price for Borobudur Temple to IDR 750 thousand (USD50) for local tourists and USD 100 for foreign tourists. This decision made netizens scream.
Because the rate increase is quite drastic. From our observations on the Borobudurpark site, adult domestic visitors are only charged Rp. 50 thousand. As for children, it is Rp. 25,000.
Foreign visitors are charged USD 25 for adults, while children are charged USD 15.
"When I entered Borobudur Temple in 2016 the ticket price was 35,000, even then I think it's expensive. Then there are no buyers. What if you increase it to 750,000? If you want to increase the price, don't make it rich. It's horrible," said the account @ tin_ersa_fbrn responds to Borobudur ticket increase.
"Borobudur is a cultural heritage of the nation and the world, entrance tickets are not necessary, it's better not to go to Magelang, it's far more expensive, just close to the Jogya Palace for cultural and historical tourism," protested the account @RanggaP01308107.
"This is all commercialization under the guise of restricting visitors. We'll just have to see how many non-student visitors there are, and the effect it will have on MSMEs around Borobudur," according to the @amatalidla account.
"Borobudur and Prambanan have large gardens and the temple grounds are also spacious. The risk of the building being damaged is small even if it is full of visitors. So what is limited is just going upstairs and the entrance ticket doesn't need to be this expensive, 750 thousand. Don't use the entrance ticket as a way to limit visitors," said @mpujayaprema account.
"It's really crazy, plus the increase in ticket prices has killed small traders in the Borobudur environment, who wants to come at that price. The price will only be worth buying on Vesak Day, wow. It's a shame that Buddhists who want to worship even feel crushed :), " said @thecutestcarrot
What do you think?
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan ensured that the government would increase the entrance ticket price for Borobudur Temple to IDR 750 thousand for local tourists and USD 100 for foreign tourists. In addition, the quota of tourists who are allowed to go up to Borobudur Temple is also limited to 1,200 people per day.
"We also agree and plan to limit the quota of tourists who want to go up to Borobudur Temple to 1,200 people per day, with a fee of 100 dollars for foreign tourists and 750 thousand rupiah for domestic tourists. Especially for students, we only charge 5000 rupiah," Luhut wrote. on his personal Instagram account.
Luhut said the decision was made solely to preserve the historical and cultural wealth of the archipelago. All tourists, he continued, will also be required to use a tour guide from local residents around the Borobudur area.
"We are doing this in order to absorb new jobs while at the same time fostering a sense of belonging to this area, so that the sense of responsibility to care for and preserve one of the historical sites of this archipelago can continue to grow in the hearts of young generations in the future," Luhut explained.
Luhut also said that the application of the principles of the blue, green and circular economy was in accordance with President Jokowi's direction. Starting today, he continued, a trial of the use of electric buses as shuttle buses for tourism vehicles will be carried out. The shuttle bus route includes Borobudur-Malioboro-Prambanan.
"By using electric vehicles and NRE, I think it will further emphasize Indonesia's commitment to using environmentally friendly energy," Luhut explained.