Members Of Commission VII: Request For Reconsideration Of The Removal Of Tourism DAK

ANTARA/Dokumentasi Pribadi

Members Of Commission VII: Request For Reconsideration Of The Removal Of Tourism DAK

, 24 Nov 2024

Member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Novita Hardini, has urged the Ministry of Tourism to reconsider the elimination of the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) for the tourism sector for the year 2025 during a working meeting with Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"We request that the Ministry of Tourism reevaluates the decision to eliminate the DAK for 2025. This budget is extremely beneficial for regions, particularly in supporting tourist villages," Novita stated in a press release received in Jakarta.

She expressed concern that the removal of the DAK could hinder the potential development of tourism in areas that could otherwise stimulate economic growth.

Furthermore, she is apprehensive about the impact of the DAK budget elimination for the tourism sector in 2025 on the development of tourism in regions, especially those with limited fiscal capacity. "I would like to remind everyone that during President Jokowi's first term, the tourism sector was prioritized with significant budget allocations. In 2023, the Special Allocation Fund for tourism reached IDR 447 billion, but it is regrettable that this budget will be eliminated for 2025," she remarked.

She also highlighted the implications of the DAK removal on tourism development in Trenggalek Regency, East Java. "Trenggalek possesses extraordinary potential in the tourism sector. Out of 100 tourist villages in East Java, 36 are located in Trenggalek. One of them, Masaran Village in Bendungan District, was even featured in a film titled 'Sinden Gaib' that was screened in cinemas," she explained.

She emphasized that without support from the DAK, local governments would struggle to develop the tourism sector, which is a key driver of regional economic growth. "Our regional budget (Trenggalek Regency) is very limited, approximately IDR 1.6 trillion, with IDR 1 billion allocated for salaries and operational costs. For infrastructure development, the available budget is less than IDR 60 billion per year," she concluded.