Borobudur Blooming in the Autumn

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Tourists visit the Svargabumi Borobudur tourist attraction in the Borobudur area, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Saturday (31/10/2020). In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of tourist attractions in the Borobudur area began to be visited by many tourists again.

During the peak of the  Covid-19 pandemic , tourism activities  in major tourist destination areas such as Borobudur temple were closed . In the new normal, tourism activities in the world’s cultural masterpiece have been reopened.  Under strict health protocols, tourism is expected to be revitalized.

Dense fog covered  the Pothook Setumbu area, Magelang regency, Central Java,  on Wednesday morning (4/11/2020).  Shrouded in clouds, a faint ray of sun rose from the eastern horizon. Dozens of travelers wearing masks anxiously waited for the fog to unfold. They came from far away to see the natural beauty of the Menoreh valley.

"We have been at home for nine months. So,  we are now on a tour. Of course we are looking for a safe and open place, not indoor. We also keep our distance and wear masks, “said Yani (63), a traveler from Jakarta who came with four of his family members.

We have been at home for nine months. So,  we are now on a tour. Of course we are looking for a safe and open place, not indoor

Thankfully, Yani and other visitors\' wishes were fulfilled. As the sun began to rise, the mist slowly cleared. You can see a beautiful landscape of the Mount Merapi, Mount Merbabu, Borobudur Temple, and the Menoreh hilly area from the 375- meters above sea level (masl) peak. The tourists did want to waste that moment to take pictures. "Very good view. I\'m pleased to come here, ”said Yani.

Even though the risk of Covid-19 remains high, Yani and his family ventured to travel to Magelang and Yogyakarta, with a private car.

Also read: Domestic Tourists Become Locomotive

Yani also felt comfortable because the manager of Punthuk Setumbu was quite good at implementing the health protocols. Hand washing stations and soap were available in many locations. A number of banners were also displayed, urging tourists to wear masks, keep their distance, and wash their hands. However, there were still  a handful of tourists who only attached  their masks to the chin.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Tourists enjoy the view at Punthuk Setumbu tourism object in the Borobudur area, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Wednesday (4/11/2020) morning.

The head of the Punthuk Setumbu Management, Nuryazid (53) said that the site had been closed for several months due to the pandemic. The Punthuk Setumbu was reopened on 27 July 27. "Before opening, we got permission from the government and the site was declared to have met all the health protocol requirements," he said.

A number of tourist attractions around Borobudur started again after the tourism activities in the temple complex were reopened at the end of June. In Java, the Borobudur temple became the first tourist attraction officially opened by the government during the pandemic. The opening was accompanied by the requirement to use strict health protocols.

Also read: Travelers Test Positive for Covid-19

The general manager of the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park I, Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana, said that the number of tourists at the Borobudur temple remained low at about 3,500 people per day. Before the pandemic, the number could reach 11,000 people per day.

"During the long weekend in the end of October recently,  many visitors turned back and could not enter because the number of the visitors had exceed the quota by more than 2,000 people," said Putu.

New destinations

Luckily, there have been more tourist destinations around the Borobudur area thanks to the opening of new tourist destinations in the past several years.

One of them is the  Enam Langit by Plataran restaurant. The restaurant located at the hills, about 700 meters above sea level provides culinary sensations combined with the beauty of the natural landscape. While having breakfast, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Mount Sumbing, Merapi, Merbabu, Andong, Telomoyo, and Bukit Tidar hill.

Also read: North Toraja Starts to Reopen Tourist Destinations

Kompas/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko

The view of Borobudur Temple as seen from the Enam Langit Restaurant by Plataran in Candirejo Village, Borobudur District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Wednesday (4/11/2020).

"Here you can also see the view of Borobudur temple, sunrise and sunset," said the manager of the restaurant, Anton Saputra.

Officially opened in December 2019, the restaurant had been closed due to the pandemic. It was reopened in July. Now, the restaurant, which is about 7 kilometers southeast of the Borobudur temple, began to get busy again.

The restaurant offers a number of packages, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also yoga activity packages while watching the sun rise.

Also read : Beware of New Covid-19 Clusters at Tourist Attractions

To reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, the restaurant implements strict health protocols. All employees who cook and serve food are required to wear masks and gloves. All cutleries are sterilized first, then put in a special envelope before being used by consumers.

"All employees also have to undergo a rapid test every 10 days," said Anton. There are also several other tourist destinations that have been opened in the midst of a pandemic. One of them is Svargabumi, about 1 kilometer just south of the temple. The tourist site is interesting because it consists of rainfed rice fields which are irrigated and given a number of Instagrammable buildings.

Also read : Reopened Borobudur Temple Relieves Boredom

A total of 22 modern photography locations were built on about 3 hectares of rice fields rented from farmers. All spots are painted white so that it contrasts with the green color of the rice plants. There are swings, hanging chairs, bean bags, net beds, and an aesthetic pool.

Kompas/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko

Visitors visit the Enam Langit Restaurant by Plataran in Candirejo Village, Borobudur District, Magelang, Central Java, Wednesday (4/11/2020).

To prevent the rice fields from being trampled, tourists can use a path made of wooden planks to cross the area. This tourist site was opened on 8 Aug. 2020. The number of visitors can reach 200 people on weekdays and the number usually more than doubles on weekends.

"We keep the number of visitors not exceeding 50 percent of the capacity," said the Svargabumi manager, Pungki Cahyono, about his commitment to adhere to health protocols.

Visitors are also required to undergo temperature checks and wear masks in the tourist area. At the entrance, water and liquid soap are provided for washing hands. Visitors are also warned not crowd.

We keep the number of visitors not exceeding 50 percent of the capacity.

Iwan Sutiarso, the acting head of the Tourism, Youth and Sports Office of Magelang Regency, acknowledged that tourism was struggling during the pandemic, which severely hurt the local economy. Of the total local revenue of about Rp 400 billion (US$27.58 million),  around 20 percent come from tourism.

Iwan said that as of the  beginning of October, as many as  53 public places had been reopened, but they were still under close monitoring.

Covid-19 can still infect anyone and anywhere, therefore all parties need to be wise, including  tour managers and visitors. For the benefit of all, health protocols should be maintained, including abiding by warnings.