Borobudur Temple, a significant Buddhist worship site in Indonesia, is set to become an even more popular destination thanks to a new partnership with Thai Airways. The collaboration aims to draw in a larger number of Thai tourists, who are particularly drawn to the temple due to their shared Buddhist heritage.
Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia, known as InJourney, and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve air connectivity between Thailand and Indonesia. This partnership specifically targets promoting Borobudur Temple as a key tourist destination. With a substantial Buddhist population in Southeast Asia, including 64 million in Thailand, the potential for attracting Thai tourists to Borobudur is significant.
This collaboration goes beyond simply boosting tourist numbers at Borobudur. It represents a broader strategy to diversify Indonesian tourism destinations, moving beyond Bali and 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 main entry point for foreign tourists visiting Borobudur and the surrounding areas. In April 2024, YIA welcomed 177,516 foreign tourists from 107 countries, with 57% arriving directly and 43% indirectly. The top sources of connectivity were Singapore (39%), Malaysia (35%), and Thailand (5%).
Faik Fahmi, President Director of InJourney Airports, is optimistic about the partnership with Thai Airways and believes it will elevate 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 bright future for local tourism.
