The iconic Borobudur temple is reopening for the first time in months today, albeit with limited capacity to ensure physical distancing measures can be observed.
The UNESCO World Heritage site is now open to a maximum of 1,500 visitors per day, which is around 10 to 15 percent of its maximum capacity.
“The Borobudur temple site, as a super priority tourist destination, has implemented standardized health protocols,” Magelang Regent Zaenal Arifin said, adding that Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has signed off on the reopening.
Local officials and PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, which manages the site, previously carried out three health protocol simulations at Borobudur on June 10, 16, and 18. A satisfactory conclusion to the simulations ruled that the site can be open with limited capacity.
Similar simulations were carried out at other popular tourist sites in the region, namely Prambanan temple and Ratu Boko Palace, but it’s not yet known when they will reopen.
The three sites have been closed to the public since mid-March amid the coronavirus scare.
For now, Borobudur is only open from 8am to 4pm. To avoid long ticketing lines, physical ticket sales are capped to 70 percent while the rest can be purchased online at ticket.borobudurpark.com.
