VP Ma’ruf Amin: Borobudur Temple Area Arrangement to Improve Surrounding Economy

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin inspects Borobudur Temple, Friday (04/22), at Magelang regency, Central Java province. (Photo by: BPMI Vice Presidential Secretariat)

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin Friday (04/22) has urged the arrangement of Borobudur Temple area so that it will be able to leverage the surrounding community’s economy.

“The arrangement of Borobudur is to leverage the community’s economy,” Vice President said after the inspection of Borobudur Temple area, Magelang regency, Central Java province.

On the occasion, President Director of Borobudur Temple Tourism Park Edy Setijono stated that several efforts will be carried out in an effort to leverage the surrounding community’s economy, first, by providing training to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) so that their products can meet market tastes and preferences.

“The training is to improve—which includes—product design, production techniques, packaging, and marketing process of the products,” Edy said, adding that these things will increase the chances of their products being bought by tourists.

Second, Edy continued, introducing the Balcondes (village economic hut) program which aims to grow the local economy at the village level and encourage the emergence of new business opportunities.

According to him, many local people have started to build businesses for services, such as culinary, homestays, crafts, and local transportations that are well connected in every Balcondes that spread across Borobudur area.

Edy cited an example that in Borobudur area, there are more than 2,000 homestays that have been established and theyhave the potential to lift the community’s economy.

“It provides new business opportunities for households to gain economic access since Borobudur is designated as a Super Priority Destination,” Edy remarked. (BPMI Vice Presidential Secretariat/UN) (GWH/LW)