"The increase in the entry fee must be informed and discussed with the local authority and tourism association to determine appropriate standard prices," Uno stated during the online weekly brief on Monday.
The upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday is an opportunity to boost revenue opportunities, as residents can now travel without any COVID-19-related restrictions, the minister noted.
However, operators must not arbitrarily increase the entry fee as residents' economic conditions have yet to fully recover, he stressed.
Operators should consider thoroughly the capability of residents, who have saved a lot of their earnings to return home and visit tourist attractions with their families, Uno added.
"They indeed want to enjoy their holiday affordably," he noted.
He also highlighted the need for tourist attraction operators to focus on increasing service quality, as several tourist spots in Java are expected to witness a surge in tourist arrivals during the Eid season.
Some places expected to record an influx of tourists during Eid are Puncak in Bogor, Cipanas in Cianjur, and Mount Tangkuban Perahu in Bandung District, all in West Java; Baturraden, Borobudur, and Prambanan in Central Java; and Mount Bromo, Batu City, and Jatim Park tourism site in East Java.
"We need to ensure that (the influx) will not be overwhelming, and services provided will remain good and at a good price as well," the minister remarked.
This year's Eid season also symbolizes hope for post-COVID-19 economic recovery, as 123.8 million people are expected to participate in the Eid exodus this year.
Related news: Regional heads should make preps in regions before homecoming: Jokowi
Related news: BNPB anticipates disasters ahead of 2023 Eid homecoming
Translator: Suci Nurhaliza, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
