Tourism Minister Urges Citizens Not to Litter at Tourist Destinations

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has urged the public to refrain from littering at all tourist destinations throughout Indonesia to maintain cleanliness and enhance the comfort of visitors.

“Not littering indiscriminately is one of the efforts to maintain visitor comfort. Let us together preserve the cleanliness of tourist destinations,” said Widiyanti during her visit to the Blok M area on Monday, 16 March.

Widiyanti stressed that cleanliness is one of the aspects currently most closely scrutinised by tourists. Refraining from littering is one of the measures to maintain Indonesia’s positive image in the eyes of the world.

According to her, the government requires public support to promote quality and sustainable Indonesian tourism.

Direct inspections of various destinations are intended to ensure the readiness of tourism area management and to provide broader promotional momentum.

“We have conducted visits to 165 locations, conducted by myself, the Deputy Minister, various deputy ministers, the tourism polytechnic, and authoritative bodies under the Ministry’s umbrella. We ensure that everyone goes directly to the field,” she said.

She added that President Prabowo Subianto, in a Full Cabinet Session at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, also emphasised the importance of direct inspections at tourism destinations coupled with strengthened promotion of Indonesia’s various tourism potentials on a more massive scale.

“Many preparations have already been made by the Tourism Ministry, ranging from coordination meetings to ensuring local governments and destination area managers take various preparatory measures to handle the surge in tourists,” she said.

During the visit, Widiyanti toured several locations now developing as creative public spaces and urban tourism destinations, such as the Bendera Pusaka Park, M Bloc Space, the Literacy Park, as well as the Melawai area known as a culinary centre with diverse offerings.

Furthermore, tourists can also obtain various information about destinations and travel inspiration in Indonesia through the official Indonesian tourism promotion website at www.indonesia.travel.

She invited the public to actively participate in preserving and promoting Indonesian tourism. Public participation is considered very important in creating quality tourism experiences whilst strengthening the positive image of national tourism.