Cleanliness creates comfort, so with the environment. Still, it seems to be one of the environmental problems happening in Indonesia, especially in many tourist destinations. There are some of destinations where beautiful natural scenery, scattered by the various colors of plastic waste that is clearly bring dangerous for the environment.
It is very contradictory that tourists should enjoy stunning natural landscapes, but must also be prepared to feel disappointed by the presence of wastes whether on the coast, mountains, and even to the bustling urban areas. It is very clear that plastic wastes need to be reduced since they will take hundreds of years to be able to decomposed by the environment. Let alone with various additional problems that can be created before they were gone.
If you are traveling to several destinations in various provinces in Indonesia, the trash cans at the vital points of the tourist attraction are less available. And sometimes not even available at all in many places. It seems to be a common thing. As if this issue is not getting any attention at all by adding it in the procurement of tourist attraction infrastructure. Especially at the very crowded locations where the wastes are have chance to be produced even more.
Government, local people and also tourists should have realized this earlier. The government should prioritize supporting infrastructure and also put efforts in promote to the local awareness continuously in supporting tourism activities.
To socialize the importance of environmental health is also valuable. In addition to providing sustainable livelihood for future generations, it is also able to increase income opportunities for the region and the host communities since the economic activity in tourism has chance to keep on increasing.
Maintaining the environment by reducing the use of plastics, the provision of integrated trash cans in strategic locations, it is not impossible that the success of tourism activities can be further developed. In fact, every region in Indonesia should be encouraged to give contribution by specifying the pilot project’s area for other regions.
At almost all beaches located in Bali, many of them have been provided with the trash cans that are placed in a very easy to find spot. Surely this will make it easier for tourists in enjoying the view and atmosphere. Even, the placement was planned to be disseminated properly so that it does not interfere with the view.
The atmosphere of the coast and the rumble of the waves can still be enjoyed and of course, plastic waste is no longer a major distraction for travelers.
At least, that what you can be seen in various beaches in Bali, though still need to be improved. But as a start, it is a good thing if that could followed by other regions at other provinces in Indonesia. Especially when developing the sector of tourism is becoming the prioritize sector in other regencies and cities.
Getting started from a simple thing. But if it is done well, then the increase in tourism and its influence to the economy of a region will be easier to be distributed to the host community.
