Indonesia and India Enhance Cultural Tourism Ties Through Prambanan

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, said Indonesia and India share deep civilizational ties, reflected in their art, language, literature, architecture, spiritual traditions, and epic stories such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. She made the remarks while accompanying Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during a visit to Prambanan Temple on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

"We see Prime Minister Modi's visit to Prambanan as a very important opportunity to strengthen people-to-people ties between Indonesia and India. The relationship between our two countries goes beyond diplomacy—it is also built on longstanding cultural and civilizational bonds," the minister said, as quoted in an official statement.

Prambanan Temple stands as one of the strongest symbols of the long-standing cultural connection between Indonesia and India. The Hindu temple complex showcases not only remarkable architecture and spirituality but also how Indian civilizational values were embraced, adapted, and transformed into a uniquely Indonesian cultural expression.

"We want Prambanan to serve as a key bridge for strengthening cultural and spiritual tourism between Indonesia and India. Together with Bali, Prambanan holds strong emotional and spiritual significance for Indian travelers," the minister said.

Strengthening Tourism Cooperation

The Ministry of Tourism's commitment to deepening relations with India extends beyond supporting Prime Minister Modi's state visit. Indonesia has consistently pursued initiatives to enhance bilateral tourism cooperation.

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

On May 30, 2018, the two countries also agreed to establish a Joint Task Force to improve connectivity between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Indonesia's Sumatra provinces, aiming to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The initiative continued through 2020 with joint tourism promotions, tourism package development, and cultural exchange programs. Indonesia and India have also strengthened cooperation through multilateral platforms, including ASEAN–India initiatives supporting the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), as well as participation in the G20 and UN Tourism.

India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026 and is scheduled to host the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur from August 19–22, 2026. India also serves as Vice Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and co-chairs the organization's Working Group on Blue Economy with Indonesia.

The Ministry of Tourism continues to promote Prambanan in the Indian and international markets, viewing Prime Minister Modi's visit as a high-value publicity opportunity to showcase Indonesia's rich cultural heritage. The ministry is also working to improve air connectivity between Indian cities and Indonesian destinations, including not only Bali and Jakarta but also Yogyakarta, Central Java, and other priority tourism destinations.

Efforts are underway to encourage direct flights to Yogyakarta International Airport through coordination with the Indian government and incentives such as temporary exemptions from landing and parking fees.

"Going forward, we will continue working with stakeholders to develop attractive travel packages while strengthening connectivity to Yogyakarta and Central Java. We hope to welcome more Indian visitors to priority destinations such as Prambanan, Borobudur, and Indonesia's tourism villages," the minister said.

Improved connectivity is expected to boost tourist arrivals, cultural exchanges, MICE activities, tourism investment, and the development of culture-, spirituality-, wellness-, and heritage-based travel packages. To make travel easier for Indian visitors, the Ministry of Tourism has also proposed including India in Indonesia's Visa-Free Visit (BVK) scheme. The proposal is currently under review under the coordination of Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.