Delinquent Visitors Threatening World Heritage Sites

While encouraging tourism sector, UNESCO world heritage sites in Indonesia are at risk of deterioration due to the uncontrolled behavior of delinquent visitors.

KOMPAS/REGINA RUKMORINI

An officer sprays essential oil on the rocks of Borobudur Temple, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Tuesday (21/6/2022). Essential oils are an innovation of natural ingredients as an effective substitute for gerbicides that are used to clean moss and fungus.

MAGELANG, KOMPAS — Indonesia’s world cultural and natural heritage sites are an extraordinary magnet for tourists. While they help boost the economy, however, the influx of visitors has caused concern about the preservation of the sites, as with the Borobudur Temple.

Located in Magelang regency, Central Java, the Borobudur Temple complex, a world cultural heritage site, has begun to show a large amount of damage, including worn-out stone steps.