"Well-organized waste management will positively affect sustainability and help us polish the image of Indonesia's tourism globally," Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa noted in a statement cited here on Monday.
During a visit to the Hariara Pohan Tourism Village, located near Lake Toba in Samosir District, North Sumatra, on Sunday, she explained that the practices of reducing, reusing, and recycling (3R) in waste management serve as concrete efforts toward creating quality green tourism attractions.
In this regard, Puspa expressed her appreciation to the tourism village for adopting 3R-based waste management since August of last year.
She cited the Samosir district head, who reported that over 1.2 million tourists visited the tourism village in 2024, about 50 percent above the target set for that year.
The deputy minister contended that this favorable figure demonstrates the importance of local community involvement in waste management to fully harness the tourism potential of their surroundings.
"This approach is crucial because it benefits not only the environment but also supports locals through the tourism and agricultural sectors," she emphasized.
Muhammad Yusuf Sihotang, head of the village's 3R waste site, confirmed that locals had gradually increased their awareness of a proper waste management system since the village's participation in the 2023 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI).
"Villagers here rely heavily on tourism income, and our participation in the 2023 ADWI motivated us to clean up the village," he affirmed.
He also noted that the 3R waste site has been receiving waste not only from locals but also from residents of nearby villages. He highlighted that the Hariara Pohan Tourism Village capitalizes on the waste by transforming it into valuable commodities, particularly diesel fuel.
Thus far, the site has managed nearly seven tons of waste, with over 200 liters of diesel fuel generated.
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Translator: Adimas R, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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