Extortion Is A Threat To Advance Tourism In Garut, Acting Regent Promises To Take Action To Complete

Acting Garut Regent Barnas Adjidin when interviewed by reporters at Garut Station, Garut Regency, West Java, Wednesday (24/1/2024). (ANTARA/Feri Purnama)

Garut Regent, Barnas Adjidin, stated that he is ready to investigate the problem of illegal levies (extortion) at tourist attractions which have been a public discussion. "Later we will try where the extortion is, then what kind of action, this must be studied first," said Barnas while carrying out his first day as Acting Regent of Garut after the inauguration of the Papandayan Train at Garut Station, Antara, Wednesday, January 24. Garut Regency is an area that has tourism potential, so it must be maintained in order to provide comfort, and developed for regional progress. Garut, who has regional characteristics as a tourist destination, he said, must be supported by various facilities that are comfortable and safe for visitors. "These tourist attractions must be maintained, and including the facilities used, for example, parking, will no longer be collected, it could be free," he said. He emphasized that the emergence of the Garut Regency problem regarding illegal levies that interfere with the comfort of the community, especially visitors to tourist attractions, must be resolved appropriately and professionally as soon as possible. Efforts to complete the extortion practice, he said, must be completed by taking professional action in accordance with applicable regulations in collaboration with the competent authorities. "You have to be fast and complete, don't let us take action that is not finished, I want our actions to be professional," he said. He added that an regional progress can be realized if the community is comfortable or there is no practice that interferes with the sense of security and comfort in society. He invited all elements of society and elements of regional leadership to jointly raise good potential in Garut Regency. "It is impossible for the government to work alone, how to take professional action, do not let us take wrong actions. Cooperate with the apparatus, forkopimda," he said.

Previously, Acting Governor of West Java Bey Sapi Machmudin at the inauguration of Barnas Adjidin as Acting Regent of Garut Tuesday asked to organize tourism in Garut which is known to have very good potential and must continue to be developed including eradicating extortion so that it can become an economic locomotive such as culinary, processed industrial products, to its natural potential. "I entrust it to reorganize tourism places so that there is no extortion at these tourist attractions so that they make it comfortable and safe for tourists visiting Garut," said Bey.