Member of Parliament Calls for Free Access to Pancuran 13 at Guci, Tegal
Member of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Abdul Fikri Faqih, is pushing for the accelerated recovery and comprehensive reorganisation of the Guci Tourism Area in Tegal Regency, Central Java, following a natural disaster. He has also proposed that access to the iconic Pancuran 13 pool be made free of charge.
According to Fikri, such a measure would help restore the local economy and attract tourists whose numbers had dropped sharply.
"We have listened to the aspirations of the community, who wish to return to the management arrangements that existed before 2019. Prior to 2019, visitors to Pancuran 13 in Guci were charged Rp10,000. After the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) under the Ministry of Forestry entered into a partnership with a private operator, entry fees were introduced and eventually rose to Rp27,000," said Fikri in Jakarta on Wednesday (18 February).
He had previously raised the matter whilst accompanying Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Ahmad Muzani, on a direct inspection of the Pancuran 13 area on Monday (16 February).
The inspection was also attended by Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Romo Muhammad Syafiie, members of the DPR RI Novita Wijayanti and Danang Wicaksana, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
Fikri went on to stress that once the revitalisation and reconstruction of the area is complete, management must be handed back to local residents without the imposition of burdensome levies.
"Management should be returned to the community — even the indigenous community has declared its readiness to take over. Once again, management without charges is intended to strengthen the significance and meaning of Pancuran 13," he said.
Furthermore, Fikri added, the revitalisation of Guci's tourism must not focus solely on physical infrastructure development. Comprehensive planning, he said, must also incorporate reforestation and concrete mitigation measures to prevent a repeat of similar flash flood disasters in the future.
The move to abolish fees is also in line with the hopes of the local community. Guci community leader Beni Khaeroni stated that Pancuran 13 has been a public facility from the outset.
"We hope that in the future there will no longer be any charges, so that it once again becomes an attraction and provides broad benefits for the community," said Beni.
According to Fikri, such a measure would help restore the local economy and attract tourists whose numbers had dropped sharply.
"We have listened to the aspirations of the community, who wish to return to the management arrangements that existed before 2019. Prior to 2019, visitors to Pancuran 13 in Guci were charged Rp10,000. After the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) under the Ministry of Forestry entered into a partnership with a private operator, entry fees were introduced and eventually rose to Rp27,000," said Fikri in Jakarta on Wednesday (18 February).
He had previously raised the matter whilst accompanying Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Ahmad Muzani, on a direct inspection of the Pancuran 13 area on Monday (16 February).
The inspection was also attended by Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Romo Muhammad Syafiie, members of the DPR RI Novita Wijayanti and Danang Wicaksana, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
Fikri went on to stress that once the revitalisation and reconstruction of the area is complete, management must be handed back to local residents without the imposition of burdensome levies.
"Management should be returned to the community — even the indigenous community has declared its readiness to take over. Once again, management without charges is intended to strengthen the significance and meaning of Pancuran 13," he said.
Furthermore, Fikri added, the revitalisation of Guci's tourism must not focus solely on physical infrastructure development. Comprehensive planning, he said, must also incorporate reforestation and concrete mitigation measures to prevent a repeat of similar flash flood disasters in the future.
The move to abolish fees is also in line with the hopes of the local community. Guci community leader Beni Khaeroni stated that Pancuran 13 has been a public facility from the outset.
"We hope that in the future there will no longer be any charges, so that it once again becomes an attraction and provides broad benefits for the community," said Beni.