Ancient temple utilization must preserve cultural heritage: Minister

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno stressed that the utilization of ancient temples must preserve their cultural heritage while also building a tourism and economic ecosystem for surrounding communities.

“This MoU truly represents an extraordinary initial commitment to preserving and revitalizing our extraordinary cultural heritage,” Pratikno said here on Thursday.

Pratikno made the statement while witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use of Prambanan Temple, Borobudur Temple, Mendut Temple, and Pawon Temple for religious activities.

According to him, ancient temples are not merely civil or architectural works, but also carry moral, religious, cultural, scientific, and civilizational values.

He said the use of ancient temples as spaces for religious activities must therefore be able to bring together the interests of religion, knowledge, culture, and the community’s economy.

“Worshippers can pray peacefully. Hindus at Prambanan, Buddhists at Borobudur, and the temples themselves must also remain well-preserved. This is a symbol of diversity that we must safeguard,” he said.

According to him, the use of temples for religious activities is part of efforts to maintain religious harmony, advance culture, provide space for worship according to one’s faith, and improve community welfare.

He also highlighted the significant economic impact of religious activities, citing the Quran Recital Competition (MTQ) held in Semarang, which increased hotel occupancy rates and generated economic benefits for the local community.

Pratikno therefore stressed that the use of temples must take into account the interests of both tourists and surrounding communities, with tourists expected to enjoy meaningful experiences of the historical and cultural heritage while communities benefit economically from the activities.

He said the Religious Affairs Ministry needs to ensure that people’s religious life is facilitated with full tolerance and diversity, while the Culture Ministry ensures that the preservation and utilization of cultural heritage sites are properly carried out.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry is expected to support the development of sustainable religious tourism, while the State-Owned Enterprises Regulatory Agency (BP BUMN) helps facilitate and develop the ecosystem around these destinations.