Jakarta, Feb. 11 -- Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana urged hotels and restaurants to consistently carry out independent waste management as a key pillar of sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism in Indonesia.

"We urge and invite hotel and restaurant owners to implement and continue independent waste management efforts," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

During a working meeting of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday, she stressed that the waste issue remains critical and has become a priority focus for the Indonesian government.

Strengthening collective awareness and taking concrete action within the business community is considered crucial to the success o...