Extortion at Gunungkidul Tourist Sites: Report to Official Hotline

In response to tourist complaints about alleged extortion (pungli) resurging, Gunungkidul Regency Government has swiftly established a dedicated communication channel.

Tourists are now urged to report any extortion directly via the official complaint number to ensure visitor comfort.

This decisive move follows viral social media footage, taken by Gunungkidul Regency’s Tourism, Creative Economy, Youth and Sports Department (Diparekrafpora).

Gunungkidul Diparekrafpora Chief Hary Sukmono confirmed the department has received reports of recurring incidents at Watulawang Beach.

To ensure visitor comfort, the local government is fully committed to halting these illegal practices and preventing future recurrence.

‘We have coordinated with the Gunungkidul Satpol PP. Today, a joint team from Satpol PP and Diparekrafpora has been deployed to the site to address the findings,’ Hary said, as reported by Kompas.com on Monday, 1 June 2026.

Meanwhile, Gunungkidul Regency Government continues to improve service systems, including expanding cashless payment implementations to minimise opportunities for illegal transactions.

Tourists who experience, witness, or feel victimised by unofficial money extraction at any Gunungkidul tourist site are encouraged not just to complain on social media, but to use the official complaint channels provided.

Residents and tourists can contact Gunungkidul Diparekrafpora’s official WhatsApp number: 085138792194

Gunungkidul Diparekrafpora’s Destination Development Head Nanang Putranto explained that the hotline was established to ensure faster, structured, and transparent complaint handling.

The communication channel is not limited to extortion reports but also covers several vital service points, including: