The Tourism Doctoral Program research team conducted fieldwork in the Borobudur area on Tuesday, July 8th 2025. This research aims to explore the experiences of local communities involved in the development of tourism villages surrounding Borobudur Temple. The study is crucial in evaluating tourism quality from the perspective of the host communities.
A focus group discussion (FGD) was held, during the visit, between the research team and stakeholders directly engaged in tourism village development in the Borobudur area. Prof. Drs. M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, M.Hum., Ph.D. of Arts., chief of the research team, stated that it is time for the existing resources in tourism villages to be sustainably managed by the local community. In addition to the research team and students, representatives from the Borobudur Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), Borobudur Village Government, and Borobudur Village Economic Center (Balkondes) also attended the FGD.
Agus Budi Santoso, Director of Balkondes Borobudur, shared that post-pandemic challenges include declining numbers of international tourists, increased competition among tourism actors, and government policies that appear top-down. These issues call for collective attention to ensure that tourism development remains sustainable and supports well-being, aligned with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
The discussion forum and interviews play a crucial role in collecting in-depth qualitative data from local communities. Furthermore, Prof. Mukhtasar explained that the research findings will be used to evaluate and provide policy recommendations to the government. As a lecturer of Philosophy of Tourism, he emphasized the vital role of local communities in managing tourism resources in their villages. He stressed that locals know their environment best and thus should be given greater opportunities to manage these resources. Fair and equitable partnerships are essential in achieving sustainable tourism goals (SDG 17).
Additionally, this research is funded through the 2025 Research Grant Scheme of the Graduate School, under the main theme “Transformation Towards Food Sovereignty, Welfare, and World Peace.”
Penulis: Amad Saeroji, Erlina Ndaru Kuntari