Magelang, January 1, 2025 – The Europe Today: Borobudur Temple, the world’s largest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, aims to attract 1.7 million visitors in 2025, according to PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur (TWC), the state-owned company managing the site.
Mardijono Nugroho, TWC’s Director of Operations and Infrastructure Development, announced the ambitious target on Wednesday during a ceremony welcoming the temple’s first visitors of the year.
Enhancing Visitor Experience
As part of the effort to achieve this goal, TWC is focusing on developing Zones 3, 4, and 5 of the Borobudur Temple Complex.
Zone 3 includes the Borobudur Village of Art, which Nugroho described as a key attraction aimed at enriching visitors’ cultural experience. The village will showcase local craftsmanship, performances, and culinary delights.
During the ceremony, two Japanese tourists and three Indonesian visitors were the first to arrive at the temple in 2025. They were greeted with special souvenirs and enjoyed an exclusive tour of the complex aboard an andong, a traditional Javanese horse-drawn cart.
Record Visitor Numbers in 2024
Borobudur Temple welcomed approximately 1.3 million visitors in 2024, achieving 87 percent of its 1.5 million visitor target. Of these, 200,000 were international tourists, reflecting the temple’s status as one of Indonesia’s super-priority tourism destinations.
The year-end holidays saw a peak in visitor numbers, with 11,000 people visiting on December 29 alone.
Collaborative Efforts for Growth
Nugroho emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to further promote Borobudur Temple and its surrounding attractions, with the goal of stimulating the local economy and strengthening Central Java’s position as a premier tourist destination.
“We aim to not only draw tourists to Borobudur but also to other destinations and attractions in the vicinity,” he said, highlighting plans for further development and marketing initiatives.
A Vision for the Future
With its rich cultural and historical significance, Borobudur Temple continues to be a magnet for domestic and international tourists. TWC’s initiatives for 2025 are expected to enhance visitor experiences while promoting sustainable tourism and benefiting the local community.
