North Sumatra Governor Ends Sidebuk Debuk Hot Spring Retribution in Karo

Medan (ANTARA) - The North Sumatra Provincial Government has requested the Karo Regency Government to stop collecting various entry retributions to the Sidebuk Debuk hot spring tourist attraction. North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution stated that the elimination of these layered retributions is necessary because they potentially disadvantage tourists and hinder the development of the Sidebuk Debuk destination in Semangat Gunung Village, Karo. “After our discussion, we are leaning towards the first option, which is no more retribution because we want Karo tourism to move up in class,” said Bobby following discussions with the Karo Regency Government at the Tengku Rizal Nurdin Hall of the North Sumatra Governor’s Official Residence in Medan on Thursday. The Governor explained that the North Sumatra Provincial Government offered two options as potential solutions for managing the hot spring tourism area. The first option is to stop collecting entry retribution directly from visitors, and instead, the levy would be charged to business operators in the area through adjustments to swimming pool entry ticket prices, accommodation costs, parking, and other facilities. “Under this scheme, the North Sumatra Provincial Government is ready to assist the Karo Regency Government in improving the main access to the hot spring tourism areas in Daulu Village and Semangat Gunung Village,” Bobby clarified. The second option, according to Bobby, is to continue imposing retribution on visitors but with stricter oversight and better management. He noted that this would prevent leakage of locally-generated revenue and stop the practice of layered retribution collection. “We have learned from the Siosar tourist attraction, which has now faded, even though it was once very crowded,” said Bobby. The Governor also mentioned that the current situation cannot be entirely blamed on the community, as the local government previously also collected retribution directly from visitors, leading the public to view this as commonplace. “It is not entirely the community’s fault because the local government also previously imposed levies, so the community learned from that. But now we are trying to fix it, and we do not want this tourist spot to suffer the same fate as Siosar,” he stated. Meanwhile, Karo Regent Antonius Ginting conveyed that the Karo Regency Government supports the first option offered by the North Sumatra Governor. The Karo Regency Government, together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum, is ready to educate the Karo community and restore the glory of the Daulu and Semangat Gunung hot springs as premier destinations. “We are ready to set up an office there 24 hours a day, and the Governor has given us until Monday to provide a written response. So from now until the written response is completed, there will be no levies in the hot spring area,” said Antonius. Therefore, he added, the Karo Regency Government, along with the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Police, will maintain a presence throughout the day, even setting up an office there if necessary, to ensure that Karo’s tourist attractions can advance in class in the future.