Mentawai Nets Rp1.01bn from Surf Tourism in Past Two Months
29 September 2016 13:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Padang - Mentawai Islands District has managed to collect Rp1.01 billion in retribution fees from surfers between August 1 and September 25, said Desti Seminora, Mentawai Islands Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports Office.
“It was collected from 1,010 foreign surfers, ...Rp1 million per person for 15 days of surfing,” Desti Seminora said Monday.
Desti said the number of surfers will increase as big wave surfing season will continue until November. “Alhamdulillah (Praise to God) over Rp1 million has been collected. The revenue target in the first year is Rp2 billion from 2,000 foreign surfers. We are optimistic of achieving it,” she said.
Desti said that retribution fees have only been collected since August this year, adding that next year’s target is Rp5 billion.
According to Desti, Mentawai Islands administration and locals have started benefiting from surfing business only this year. For over ten years, foreign surfers had been visiting the area, making no contribution to Mentawai.
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