Mount Dempo Pagaralam Tourist Village Reopens

Palembang (ANTARA) - The Mount Dempo Tourist Village in Pagaralam, South Sumatra (Sumsel), has reopened after being closed for several weeks due to regulatory and land permit obstacles related to PTPN VII’s Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) land rights.

South Sumatra’s Head of the Culture and Tourism Office, Rudi Irawan, stated in Palembang on Thursday that the resumption of operations for this flagship destination follows intensive coordination between the provincial government and the plantation company.

Although it has reopened, he emphasised that the permit issued by PTPN I Regional 7 is temporary. The managers of the Mount Dempo Tourist Village have been given a three-month deadline to fulfil all applicable administrative and permitting requirements.

The permit letter, signed by the Acting Head of Region for PTPN I Regional 7, Iyan Heriyanto, has also been copied to the Governor of South Sumatra, the Mayor of Pagaralam, and other relevant agencies.

Previously, the Mount Dempo Tourist Village was forced to close due to discrepancies in the utilisation of HGU land. This reactivation is based on a letter from the South Sumatra Regional Secretary No. 800/2713/Disbudpar.IV/2026, issued on 12 May 2026, as a form of government support for the regional tourism sector.

The provincial government hopes that during this three-month transition period, the managers can quickly complete their legal documentation so that tourism activities at the foot of Mount Dempo are not hindered in the future, given that the location is one of the main attractions for tourists in South Sumatra.

The various tourist attractions at Mount Dempo include Bukit Tungguan, Nature High Villa, and the Kabelban Reas Area, as well as the DS Strawberry Planting garden, Wabisabi Homestay in Kampung 4, seasonal agricultural lands, and a house that has been used as a registration point for Mount Dempo climbs (Brigade).