Gunungkidul Targets Rp12 Billion Tourism Retribution By The End Of The Year

Ngandong Beach tourist attraction in Gunung Kidul. (Sutarmi/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Tourism Office of Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, is targeting a tourist attraction retribution income of Rp2 billion in mid-November and the end of December to reach the target of Rp12 billion.

Secretary of the Gunungkidul Tourism Office (Dispar) Harry Sukmono in Gunungkidul, Tuesday, said that the realization of the tourist attraction retribution revenue until mid-November reached Rp9.4 billion or around 1,313,697 visitors from the target of Rp12 billion.

"To achieve the target of Rp12 billion by the end of the year is indeed difficult, but we are optimistic that in the next 1.5 months we will be able to increase the retribution income by around Rp2 billion," said Harry as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, November 11.

Regarding the impact of eliminating the 2022 Christmas and New Year holidays, he said it would not have a significant impact on tourist visits to this region. According to him, every weekend all tourist attractions in Gunungkidul remain crowded with visitors while still implementing strict health protocols. Then, on weekdays, there are still visits, although not as busy as on weekends.

Harry is optimistic that with the easing of the development of COVID-19 and high public awareness of complying with health protocols at tourist attractions, tourist visits will continue to increase.

"We continue to prioritize strict health protocols. Officers in the field always carry out health protocol patrols, such as reminding tourists to always wear masks and maintain a distance between visitors," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Tourism Destination Development Division of Dispar Gunungkidul Supriyanto said his party continued to provide training for tourism actors. In addition to health protocols, the training provided is in the form of ways to increase income.

"One of them is through digital marketing. Digital promotion through social media is able to boost tourist visits to these attractions," he said.