Officially formed since 2018, the Borobudur Authority Agency (BOB) is present as a realization of the Presidential Regulation on the Establishment of the Borobudur Tourism Authority Agency. The presence of the Borobudur Authority Agency is not only to boost tourism and the creative economy in the temple area, but also to preserve the world heritage site.

Later the Borobudur Authority Agency developed an Authority Zone covering an area of ​​309 hectares. This zone is an exclusive tourism area with natural nuances, and carries the concept of sustainability and friendliness to nature.

The areas of the Borobudur Authority include: Magelang, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Salatiga, and Semarang. Interestingly, around the BOB area there are several tourist destinations that carry the concept of sustainable tourism, or sustainable tourism that is worth visiting. The following is a list of destinations:

Sedayu Rare Fruit Garden

Yogyakarta has plantation tourism destinations that are home to 350 rare fruit plants. This fruit garden has been developed since 2012, but only opened to the public in 2015.

One of the unique plants in Sedayu Fruit Garden is strawberry guava. This South American plant has a fiery red color and has a sour taste. Although there are many unique fruits, don't try to pick this fruit in the garden without the supervision of officers, because this is a rare fruit.

Nglanggeran Tourism Village

Still in Yogyakarta, Parekraf friends can also visit Nglanggeran Tourism Village. The village that applies the ecotourism concept has several excellent destinations, such as Embung Nglanggeran and Kedung Kandang Waterfall. 

In addition to natural tourism, Nglanggeran Tourism Village also has a distinctive culture that becomes a tourist attraction, such as musical art and reog mataraman. There is also an Etawa goat farm in this area which adds to the uniqueness of the Nglanggeran Tourism Village.

Beautiful Landscape of Menoreh Hills, Kulon Progo (Yogyakarta) and Purworejo (Central Java) Areas. (Photo: shutterstock/akhmaddodyfirmansyah).

Menoreh Hills

Menoreh Hills is located in the Kulon Progo (Yogyakarta) and Purworejo (Central Java) areas. From the Menoreh Hills, you can enjoy views of Kulon Progo from a height. There are several areas you can visit in the Menoreh Hills, including Suroloyo Peak, Kendil Mountain, Menoreh Tumpeng, and Widosari Peak. 

To increase the selling value of Menoreh Hills, the government plans to add cultural and culinary elements, such as in Tumpeng Menoreh. At this location, there are various local foods made by local residents, such as sesame honey chicken to garang asem.

Gunung Sewu Geopark

Gunung Sewu Geopark is also a part of Nglanggeran Tourism Village. This geopark emphasis more on natural tourism. Overall, the Gunung Sewu Geopark includes: mountains, rivers, valleys, waterfalls, caves, and coastal areas. 

If you are bored with visiting nature tourism, this area also has a storefront building that stored hundreds of rocks and fossils from the Gunung Sewu Geopark, as well as areas around the geopark, such as Kebumen.

Karangrejo Village

Lastly, you can visit Karangrejo Tourism Village. This tourist village has succeeded in obtaining a Sustainable Tourism Village certification from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf). 

One of the attractions in this 174-hectare village is the Chicken Church or Bukit Rhema, Karangrejo Fruit Garden, and Barede Hill. This tourism object also provides tour packages, which consist of learning to grow crops, walking along the river by Jeep, and going around the village by bicycle.

Those are five sustainable tourist destinations under the Borobudur Authority Agency area. In accordance with the concept, these areas are adjacent to the Borobudur Temple Complex, making it easy to reach after visiting the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

Cover: Beautiful Landscape of Borobudur Temple with background view Sumbing Mountain. (Photo: shutterstock/memology).