Bobby Nasution prepares solution to end problematic entrance fees at Karo hot springs and promotes destination improvement
The Governor of North Sumatra, Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, is committed to abolishing levies that can harm tourists and hinder the development of tourist destinations. One of his main priorities at the moment is the issue of entrance fees at the hot springs in the villages of Daulu and Semangat Gunung in the Karo Regency.
To resolve this issue, Bobby Nasution is offering two options for a solution regarding the management of these hot springs.
The first option is to abolish all direct entrance fees for visitors. Instead, the costs would be passed on to local businesses through price adjustments for admission tickets to the baths, accommodation, parking, and other services. As part of this plan, the provincial government of North Sumatra is also prepared to support the government of the Karo Regency in improving the main access roads to the hot springs in Daulu and Semangat Gunung.
The second option is to maintain the entrance fees, but with stricter and better management. This will prevent the leakage of regional revenue (PAD) and eliminate multiple levies for tourists.
“After our previous consultations, we are leaning towards the first option: no more extra costs, because we want to stimulate tourism in Karo. We have learned from Siosar, which, despite its popularity, has now fallen into decline,” said Bobby Nasution after a meeting with the regional government of Karo at the Tengku Rizal Nurdin Hall, Jalan Sudirman no. 41, Medan, on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
According to Bobby Nasution, the current situation cannot be entirely attributed to the community. Previously, the local government also levied fees on visitors, causing the community to consider this normal. “It is not entirely the community’s fault, because the local government used to charge fees as well, so they have learned from that. But now we are trying to resolve it, and we do not want this tourist attraction to suffer the same fate as Siosar,” he said.
The Regent of Karo, Antonius Ginting, expressed his support for the first option proposed by the Governor of North Sumatra. The government of Karo, together with the Regional Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), is prepared to educate the public and make the hot springs of Daulu and Semangat Gunung a leading tourist destination once again.
“We are prepared to staff our offices there 24/7. The governor has given us until Monday (June 21) to respond in writing. Until the written response is received, no entrance fees will be charged at the hot springs. We, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the police, and the Public Order Service (Satpol PP), will be on standby day and night. If necessary, we will staff our offices there to promote tourism in Karo,” said Antonius Ginting.
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The meeting was also attended by the Regional Secretary of Karo, Gelora Kurnia Putra Ginting, and officials from relevant regional government agencies within the Government of Karo. Also present were entrepreneurs and managers from the Karo hot springs region, as well as representatives of the provincial government of North Sumatra, including the head of the Transport Agency, the head of the Satpol Provincial Police, the head of the Agency for Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, and the head of the North Sumatra Regional Agency for Finance and Asset Management (BPKAD). ***REL
