PM Modi Visits Prambanan to Indonesia-India Cultural Diplomacy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism welcomed the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Indonesia—specifically his visit to Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta—viewing it as a significant moment to strengthen ties between Indonesia and India through culture, spirituality, and tourism.

Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, conveyed the strong civilizational bond shared by Indonesia and India. The legacy of the relationship between the two nations is reflected in art, language, literature, architecture, and spiritual traditions, as well as in epic tales such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

"We view Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Prambanan as a crucial opportunity to strengthen people-to-people ties between Indonesia and India. The relationship between the two countries goes beyond mere diplomacy; it is a cultural and civilizational bond that has been established over a long period," the Minister of Tourism said while accompanying Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Prambanan Temple stands as a symbol of the civilizational closeness between Indonesia and India. This Hindu temple complex not only showcases architectural and spiritual heritage but also demonstrates how Indian civilizational values were adopted, adapted, and enriched to create a uniquely Indonesian cultural expression.

“We aim to position Prambanan as a vital bridge in strengthening cultural and spiritual tourism ties between Indonesia and India. Like Bali, Prambanan holds a deep emotional and spiritual significance for Indian tourists,” the Minister of Tourism said.

Indonesia and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation on February 8, 2000. The scope of this cooperation encompasses research and development, education and training, promotion, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), investment, and private sector collaboration.

On May 30, 2018, Indonesia and India agreed to establish a Joint Task Force to improve connectivity between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the provinces of Sumatra. This initiative aims to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties.

Follow-up activities by the Joint Task Force continued through 2020, including joint tourism promotion, the development of tourism packages, and cultural exchanges.

Relations between Indonesia and India have also been further strengthened through various multilateral cooperation forums. These include ASEAN–India cooperation regarding the Joint Statement on cooperation in support of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Both countries are also actively engaged in the G20 forum and UN Tourism.

India holds the BRICS Chairmanship for 2026 and will host a series of tourism-related meetings. Among these is the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting, scheduled for August 19–22, 2026, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

India currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and co-leads the Working Group on Blue Economy alongside Indonesia.

Regarding promotion, the Ministry of Tourism continues to boost the visibility of Prambanan Temple in both Indian and international markets. The visit by the Prime Minister of India is being leveraged as a high-value promotional opportunity to showcase Indonesia's rich culture and tourism offerings to the global audience.