Pungli at Lombok Tourism Destinations is Getting More Worrisome
JAKARTA - Illegal collection practices at a number of tourist destinations are considered to be increasingly tarnishing the image of tourism on the island of Lombok in the eyes of the public and tourists.
Instead of providing a sense of security and comfort, the pungli actually triggered complaints and had the potential to reduce the interest in visiting the area, which has long been known for its natural beauty.
One of the latest cases that has become the focus of public attention is the circulation of a video of alleged extortion in the Gili Mas Port area, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The video that went viral on social media triggered unrest, especially among tourism business actors.
In the footage, which lasts about 45 seconds, a young man who claimed to be a cooperative member was seen arguing with the driver of a car who was about to pick up a cruise ship passenger. The driver was asked to pay Rp. 20 thousand because he was not registered as a cooperative member.
In practice, the collection imposed on travel agency drivers in the area varies, with nominal ranging from Rp. 20 thousand to Rp. 100 thousand.
The cooperative denied the accusation of extortion. They stated that only drivers who have cooperative identity cards are allowed to enter the port area.
Meanwhile, drivers who do not have a card are asked to pay a parking fee that is said to be voluntary, outside the official tariff for entering the Gili Mas Port gate at Rp. 10 thousand.
The pungli phenomenon does not only occur at Gili Mas Port. Similar practices have also been reported to be rampant in various other tourist locations in Lombok Island, one of which is the Pusuk Sembalun area in East Lombok Regency.
At the location, the parking rate for four-wheeled vehicles is pegged at Rp. 10 thousand and Rp. 5 thousand per unit for motorbikes. Even tourists who just stop for a moment to take a photo in the Pusuk Sembalun Park often ask to pay up to Rp. 20 thousand.
Similar collections were also found around the Mandalika Circuit area, specifically in the roadside area opposite the Al-Hakim Mosque. Parking vehicles on the road is charged at a rate of Rp. 10 thousand for cars and Rp. 5 thousand for motorbikes.
During the MotoGP race, the parking rate around the Mandalika Circuit, which is managed by local residents, even jumped sharply, reaching Rp50 thousand to Rp100 thousand per vehicle.
The rampant extortion, which is generally related to parking and entrance tickets to tourist attractions, is slowly eroding the image of Lombok tourism. This condition has the potential to cause inconvenience for tourists and have an impact on declining visits in the future if it is not immediately addressed seriously.