Preserve Tirta Empul Temple as cultural heritage: President Jokowi

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited Tirta Empul Temple, Manukaya village, Gianyar district, Bali province, on Friday, and asked all stakeholders to preserve the cultural heritage. The temple is located east of the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace. In addition to the temple being a tourist attraction, a clear spring on its premises is used for religious ceremonies.

"I think that the temple is well-maintained and clean. Currently, a lot of tourists have started to visit it (again)," the President said, according to a statement issued by the press, media, and information bureau of the Presidential Secretariat. The temple is included in the subak (Bali’s traditional irrigation system) landscape of the Pakerisan Watershed (DAS). The landscape has been designated a world cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Hence, Jokowi urged all parties—the local government as well as the community—to collaborate for maintaining the temple. "Please keep implementing strict health protocols and maintaining the cleanliness of the place since it is the asset of the nation, community, and indigenous people, which provides welfare to the people and the local government of this customary village," he remarked.

The customary head of the village (locally called bendesa adat), Made Mawiarnata, informed that the number of visitors at Tirta Empul Temple has declined amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, he said he is grateful that lately, tourists have begun to flock to the temple. “The visitors have started to come, especially domestic tourists, thanks to the opportunity (relaxing of travel regulations) which has been provided by the government as it is very supportive. Still, there are only a few overseas tourists," he informed.

The customary head of the village urged the community to help promote the cultural heritage to wider audiences to attract more tourists to the temple.