Access roads to Karo Hot Springs expanded, efforts to abolish entrance fees and develop the Karo area
The Governor of North Sumatra, Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, will construct two new access roads to the Karo Hot Springs tourist area in the village of Semangat Gunung.
This step is part of an effort to improve the quality and competitiveness of one of North Sumatra’s most important tourist destinations, in line with the policy to abolish entrance fees for visitors.
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Previously, the government of the Karo Regency (Pemkab) and the provincial government of North Sumatra (Pemprov) agreed to abolish the levies for tourists visiting the Karo Hot Springs tourist area. According to Bobby Nasution, these levies were a recurring subject of discussion.
“We have committed to no longer charging an entrance fee to visitors. This is the first step to raising the status of our tourist destination, and better accessibility is also very important,” said Bobby Nasution after an audience with the Regent of Karo at the office of the Governor of North Sumatra, Jalan Diponegoro No. 30, Medan.
In addition to improving accessibility, Bobby Nasution is also promoting the establishment of a tourist village in the area around the Karo hot springs. The village is intended to become a center of economic activity for the community through the development of a souvenir shop, a food court, and various other tourism businesses managed by the local population.
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“We could leverage the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of local businesses. Various companies could pool their CSR funds to build and manage the tourist village for the community,” said Bobby Nasution. Regent Antonius Ginting of Karo explained that the two new roads to be constructed will not only facilitate access to the tourist area but also reduce traffic congestion in Berastagi and the surrounding area.
The first route connects Penatapan Berastagi with the village of Semangat Gunung, while the second route connects Jaranguda in Berastagi with the village of Semangat Gunung.
“People from Medan can thus travel directly to the destination without having to go via Daulu first, and people from Simalungun in Southeast Aceh can travel via Jaranguda. This will also reduce traffic congestion. People who do not want to stop in Berastagi can use this route,” said Antonius Ginting.
He further explained that the future levy will be passed on directly to businesses through taxes on restaurants, hotels, bathhouses, parking facilities, and other business sectors. According to him, the businesses have agreed to this plan.
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“The levy comes from there, and subsequently we will relocate our residents working there, such as parking attendants, tax collectors, cleaning staff, and others, to professional jobs,” said Antonius Ginting.
Also present at the meeting were the Assistant to the Government of North Sumatra, Basarin Yunus Tanjung; the head of the North Sumatra Roads and Construction Agency (BMBK), Chandra Dalimunthe; the head of the North Sumatra Communications and Information Agency, Erwin Hotmansah Harahap; and various heads of relevant regional government agencies (OPDs). Also present were the Regional Secretary of the Karo Regency, Gelora Kurnia Putra Ginting, and officials from the OPDs of the Government of the Karo Regency. ***rel
