We may be able to successfully implement it (one approach) in Lake Toba, but whether it can be done in other four (destinations) remains in questionJakarta (ANTARA) - A more comprehensive approach needs to be applied for waste management in tourism areas, especially in the five super-priority destinations, the Tourism Ministry’s director of tourism and creative economy destination management has said.
At a virtual discussion on Tuesday, Indra Ni Tua said that the issue of waste in each regions' tourism destinations is interrelated with other regions, which necessitates the use of multiple approaches.
For instance, the waste in Bali region comes from the Bengawan Solo and Brantas rivers, he noted. “When we go upstream, almost all of Java has to be handled in order to resolve the issue,” he said.
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In addition, each region has a variety of social approaches concerning education on the problem of waste by facilitators that the government collaborates with, he said.
"We may be able to successfully implement it (one approach) in Lake Toba, but whether it can be done in other four (destinations) remains in question," he pointed out.
He said that sometimes his office has to switch an activity’s location because of difficulties that are unique to that location.
The problem of waste is challenging Indonesia's tourism sector, he remarked.
This is reflected in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) report of the World Economic Forum in 2019, which shows that Indonesia ranked 135 out of 140 nations in terms of environmental sustainability in tourism, he said.
To handle the issue of waste, the Tourism Ministry has been asking tourism destination managers, including those in super-priority regions, to form Waste Management Unit (UPS), he added.
In addition, the ministry is also cooperating with waste banks, waste collectors, and other institutions to highlight the economic value of utilizing waste to the public, Tua said.
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Translator: Rizka K, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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