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Govt urged to delay increase on Mt. Bromo entry fees
East Java Governor Soekarwo has asked the government to delay a 300 percent increase to the entrance fee to Mount Bromo
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East Java Governor Soekarwo has asked the government to delay a 300 percent increase to the entrance fee to Mount Bromo.
'This is an unreasonable increase,' Soekarwo said on Monday. 'Tax bleaching alone could be done [or a] delay,' he went on.
It was previously reported that as of May Government Regulation (PP) No. 12/2014 on the change of entry fee for the Bromo tour area will take effect, having been signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Feb. 14.
The new regulation stipulates that domestic tourists should pay Rp 37,500 (US$3.30) up from Rp 10,000 while foreign tourists should pay Rp 627,500 from Rp 72,500 previously.
The new regulation also stipulates entrance fees on holidays, which are Rp 67,500 for domestic tourists and Rp 640,000 for foreign tourists. The old regulations did not apply separate holiday fees.
In response, tens of thousands of travel agents threatened to not promote Mt. Bromo.
Many claim that the facilities and infrastructure did not support the price increase.
Chairman of Commission B at East Java Legislative Council, Agus Dono Wibawanto, said his commission had met Forestry Ministry officials and asked not only for a delay but a cancellation of the increases.
'Many communities depend on Mt. Bromo. If the attraction becomes unpopular, their welfare will be disturbed,' Agus, a politician with the Democratic Party, said.
Agus said he would propose that the attraction be managed by the local administration.
In 2013, there were 579,132 visitors to Mt. Bromo, or a 30 percent increase from around 400,000 the previous year. The surge in number of visitors had a positive effect on non-taxable revenues from Rp 1.8 billion in 2012 to Rp 6 billion in 2013, or a 350 percent increase. (put/nvn)
