During the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Tourism here on Wednesday, he noted that waste management remains an issue in Indonesia, including in priority tourist destinations such as Lake Toba.
“I am so thankful that we can sign this MoU. We can support Indonesian tourism to advance,” he said.
He affirmed that the Ministry of Environment is ready to continue supporting waste management efforts, particularly in tourist destinations.
According to the deputy minister, tourism is crucial for achieving the 8 percent economic growth target set by the government for this year. However, while pushing tourism development, environmental issues must be given due attention.
The deputy minister listed several efforts that have been made so far to maintain destinations frequented by tourists. They include cleanups at several beaches, including those in Bali.
Similar cleanups have been conducted at other tourist destinations, such as Yogyakarta and Kota Tua, Jakarta, by the Ministry of Tourism.
Hendropriyono said that his ministry has also taken legal action against tourism players found violating environmental rules.
For instance, 13 companies operating in Puncak, Bogor, West Java, were earlier asked to demolish their buildings and restore the ecosystem in their operational areas.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana coordinated directly with Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq to address the issue.
“We should support each other, pay attention to each other,” the deputy minister said.
Based on the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), Indonesia generated 34.2 million tons of waste in 2024, based on reports from 319 districts and cities. Of the total, the volume of unmanaged waste reached 18.1 million tons.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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