Without Clear Rules, Toll Continues to Eat Lombok Tourism

JAKARTA - Illegal collection practices in tourist areas often arise due to the lack of clear and uniform tariff standards. When local people feel that they have the legitimacy to collect only because the tourist attraction is in their area, the local government needs to be present through firm and binding regulations.

The official tariff must be announced publicly to the public, including parking fees, entrance tickets, tour guide services, to the use of public facilities such as toilets. In addition, the implementation of a non-cash payment system and electronic tickets is considered important to minimize the gap in the diversion of levies.

With transparent and easily accessible tariff information, tourists have certainty of costs, so that there is room for extortion practices to be significantly suppressed.

The involvement of local residents in the management of tourist attractions is still needed, but must be in an official container such as a tourist awareness group (pokdarwis). All mandatory levies are registered, agreed upon together, and managed with a transparent and accountable profit-sharing system.

Efforts to enforce discipline also need to be accompanied by ongoing education so that all parties understand that pungli can have a deterrent effect on tourists. In the long run, this practice has the potential to reduce the overall revenue of the tourism sector.

Illegal collection is often seen as a quick way to make money, only with simple attributes without a clear management mechanism. This kind of mindset needs to be stopped through the implementation of a free pungli zone in various tourist destinations.

If violations continue to occur, the government must dare to take firm action, including freezing and revoking the right to manage tourist attractions. This policy is important to create healthy competition and encourage professional tourism management.

The rampant practice of pungli which has emerged in various tourist destinations in Lombok Island is no longer a trivial matter, but a serious threat to the competitiveness of West Nusa Tenggara tourism at the national and international levels.

As an area that carries the nickname "New Bali", Lombok Island needs to maintain its integrity and reputation. Only with clean and transparent governance, quality tourism development in accordance with the vision of NTB Prosperous World can be realized.