Manuscript received May 9, 2026; accepted June 11, 2026; published July 29, 2026.
Abstract—As the largest temple complex in Southeast Asia, covering approximately 3981 hectares, the Muarajambi Temple Complex represents one of the most significant cultural heritage landscapes in Indonesia. Despite its historical and archaeological importance, the site remains relatively underrecognized as a heritage tourism destination. This study aims to identify the multidimensional potential of the Muarajambi Temple Complex and examine how different values shape the direction of its heritage tourism development. A qualitative descriptive approach with a case study method was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis. The findings reveal that the heritage potential of the Muarajambi Temple Complex can be understood through two main dimensions: tangible and intangible heritage. Tangible elements include temple structures, ancient canals, ponds, and supporting infrastructure such as museums and local markets. Intangible heritage is reflected in religious activities, cultural festivals, and the historical narrative of Muarajambi as a center of Buddhist learning in Southeast Asia. However, the development of the site is influenced by differing stakeholder priorities, particularly regarding economic, environmental, and socio-cultural values. These differences indicate that heritage tourism development involves continuous negotiation among multiple value dimensions. Therefore, integrating these values within site governance is essential to support sustainable heritage tourism development in the Muarajambi Temple Complex.
Keywords—multidimensional values, Muarajambi temple complex, sustainable development
Cite: Manda Juniawan, Erda Rindrasih, Frederic K. Marbun, Fajar Kurniyasih, and Isa C. Wibowo, "Negotiating Multidimensional Values in Heritage Tourism Development: The Case of the Muarajambi Temple Complex," International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 117-123, 2026.
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (
CC BY 4.0).