Jakarta (ANTARA) – 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 of the national waste management agenda.She continued that ministries and agencies have launched various massive initiatives to accelerate the resolution of waste issues. In addition to collaborating with international partners, the development of waste-to-energy programs has become an alternative in building more modern and integrated waste management infrastructure.She further said that President Prabowo Subianto has also initiated the Indonesia ASRI environmental cleanup movement as part of efforts to address waste.Independent waste management practices by hotels and restaurants, she noted, will provide a concrete contribution to the national agenda while strengthening the image of clean and competitive tourist destinations.In addition to having an impact on the environment, this step is also expected to strengthen tourists' trust in Indonesia's commitment to environmental sustainability.On that occasion, Wardhana also highlighted a shift in tourist preferences, which are increasingly leaning toward environmental awareness, health and wellness, and meaningful, immersive experiences with personalized services.This trend requires the industries to adapt and provide service standards that are not only high-quality but also ethical and sustainable.The minister explained that tourism performance throughout 2025 showed a solid foundation despite economic dynamics. The lowest hotel occupancy rate occurred in March 2025 at 33.56 percent, a decrease of 9.85 percentage points compared to March 2024.The hotel industry subsequently demonstrated resilience, as occupancy rates followed a consistent upward trend, peaking at 56.12 percent in December 2025—the highest recorded for the year.