From crisis to progress: How the COVID-19 pandemic has led to better destination management of Borobudur Temple in Indonesia
What does the future of tourism look like after COVID-19? Is it heading toward business as usual, or will it be business as unusual? COVID-19 has had a huge negative impact on the industry; especially in the destinations that rely on international travel, the impact has been severe as borders have been closed for a long time and the recovery in international tourist arrivals has still not returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. While the crisis is impacting the industry, some see the pandemic as a wake-up call as well as an opportunity to rethink tourism and build destinations better, rather than constantly running into the same original problems.
To help the Center for Tourism Studies (PUSPAR), part of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, rehabilitate tourism in Yogyakarta Province, PUM was enlisted. PUM is a network of 1,300 volunteer experts who share knowledge on sustainable and inclusive development in 37 countries. CELTH director Menno Stokman and CELTH program manager Dr. Jasper Heslinga traveled to Yogyakarta on behalf of PUM to provide on-the-ground advice on tourism sector recovery in Indonesia following the COVID pandemic.
In addition to a series of lectures and advice, they spoke with the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Sandiaga S. Uno, but also went into the field to look at the world-famous Borobudur temple. This temple is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has had to deal with all kinds of negative consequences of overtourism in recent decades. The authorities have seized the COVID pandemic to manage it differently. Together with colleague researchers Prof. Mohamad Yusuf and Prof. Janianton Damanik of the Center for Tourism Studies (PUSPAR), part of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, they wrote down their main findings about the developments around the Borobudur temple in Yogyakarta in the scientific journal 'Journal of Tourism Futures'. Below are the main interventions that have been made:
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Set a maximum number of visitors.
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Make sure there is a larger offer to accommodate the visitors.
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Only allow visits accompanied by guides.
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Make use of the price mechanism.
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Only allow access with damage-free footwear.
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Involve the local community and take it seriously
This article shows that tourism does not have to be an indomitable monster, but that it can be pushed in a certain desired direction with a few firm and daring measures. To enaure that tourism contributes to both the desired social and economic development of areas. The article is intended to learn from and inspire other destinations in the world to think critically about the benefits and burdens of tourism and how to balance them.
Knowing more? Read the full article Future strategies for tourism destination management: post COVID-19 lessons observed from Borobudur, Indonesia with the observation here: