Wednesday, August 21, 2024 A new partnership with Thai Airways is set to elevate Borobudur Temple as a premier destination, drawing more Thai tourists to this iconic spiritual site. Borobudur Temple management is partnering with Thai Airways to draw more tourists from Thailand. Known for its significance as a Buddhist worship site, Borobudur holds particular appeal for the predominantly Buddhist Thai population.
Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia, also known as InJourney, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Thai Airways International Public Company Limited to enhance air connectivity between Thailand and Indonesia, with a focus on promoting Borobudur Temple as a key tourist destination. With 120 million Buddhists in Southeast Asia—64 million of whom reside in Thailand—the potential for attracting Thai tourists to Borobudur is substantial. This collaboration not only aims to boost tourist numbers at Borobudur but also reflects a broader strategy to diversify Indonesia’s foreign tourism destinations beyond Bali, opening new opportunities for the country’s tourism industry.
Previously, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy promoted Flores as a spiritual tourism center for Catholics. Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) serves as the primary entry point for foreign tourists visiting Borobudur and the surrounding areas. As of April 2024, YIA had welcomed 177,516 foreign tourists from 107 countries, with 57% arriving directly and 43% indirectly.
The top sources of connectivity are Singapore (39%), Malaysia (35%), and Thailand (5%). Faik Fahmi, President Director of InJourney Airports, expressed optimism that the partnership with Thai Airways will enhance Borobudur’s status as a spiritual tourism destination. The introduction of flights from Thailand to Yogyakarta via YIA is expected to significantly increase the number of tourists visiting the region, signaling a promising future for local tourism.
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