The Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy has launched a program to revitalize public toilets in the five designated super-destinations, including the Mandalika in Lombok Complex in West Nusa Tenggara.
The “kick-off ceremony” for the toilet revitalization program was held on Kuta Beach in Bali on Wednesday, 17 March 2021, attended by Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno and ranking Bali provincial authorities from the environmental sector and tourism.
As reported by the State News Agency Antara, the ceremony was followed online via live streaming by leaders from five “super-destinations” nationwide.
Minister Sandiaga said the toilet revitalization program represented a joint effort across several national ministries and related agencies.
Sandiaga described public toilets as a vital piece of infrastructure in tourism destination areas. Clean public toilets are essential aspects of cleanliness and security in any tourism destination. By revitalizing public toilets, the welcome extended by a tourist destination is enhanced. Adding: “At the end of 2020, I sent photos of Kuta Beach (in Bali) that were covered by trash with unattended public toilets. But now the situation has improved. This revitalization will reawaken tourism in the ‘new normal’ and prepare Bali as well as other destinations for reopening.”
The “kick-off ceremony” also served to launch an accompanying program aimed at managing waste and trash disposal at water sports destinations in Indonesia. The beach clean-up program is a coordinated program between the Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy, The Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, and the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment.
The Deputy of the Tourism Ministry for Destination Development and Infrastructure, Santosa Sungkari, explained that toilet revitalization aims to provide international hotel-standard toilets at Indonesian tourism destinations. “Revitalizing the toilets is important, but what is even more crucial is the future service and cleanliness of the public toilets. At the same time, plastic waste at these destinations must be minimalized,” explained Sungkari.
Sungkari said that in addition to maintaining clean, modern public toilets, change is needed in the public mentality towards a desire to safeguard and maintain cleanliness.
The Indonesian government has set the target of eliminating 70% of all plastic waste by 2024.
The program to manage beachside waste in tourism destinations involves at least 18 ministries and related agencies.