PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The annual Cycling de Jabar event has new potential for developing tourism from the cycling sports sector or sport tourism.

With this professional event, apart from several tourist attractions being visited because they are a stopover for cyclists, it is hoped that it will also attract many tourists in general from the hype and publicity carried out.

Because of this, levies from tourist attractions have become something relevant to discuss: that Cycling de Jabar, which is held by the West Java Provincial Government in collaboration with partners, can increase regional income from the levy sector for tourist attractions, whether managed by the district and city governments or the Provincial Government.

According to the Head of the West Java Regional Revenue Agency, Dedi Taufik, the prospect of retribution from the management of tourist attractions is very likely to be developed in accordance with the characteristics of existing natural tourist attractions.

In terms of regulations, levy rates must be regulated in a regional regulation.

Currently, explained Dedi, West Java already has Regional Regulation Number 9 of 2023 concerning Regional Taxes and Regional Levies. The attachment regulates the imposition of tariffs on types of business service levies for tourist attractions, recreation and sports venues.

"Considering that the determination of the types of taxes and levies regulated in the HKPD Law (Regional Central Financial Relations) and KUPDRD (General Provisions for Regional Taxes and Regional Levies) is a close list, the collection of the types and objects of levies in a region is based on regional regulations," said Dedi Taufik in Bandung City, Thursday (23/5/2024).

According to him, adjustments to levy rates previously regulated by regional regulations could only be made after three years of promulgation of the regional regulations.

"The regulation is for 2023, so it is possible that it will only be implemented effectively three years after 2023," said Dedi.

Apart from that, Dedi supports the spirit of ecotourism and zero emissions promoted by the Cycling de West Java event. According to him, with these environmentally friendly and sustainable principles, West Java's tourism potential will reach its highest point from a marketing perspective.

"The current challenge is at the inventory stage of what tourism potential is worth developing. The government must synergize with relevant stakeholders to expand marketing or promotion," said Dedi.

In the context of income for the province, added Dedi, increasing tourism levies can only be done as long as the assets are managed by the West Java Provincial Government.