To Be Clean And Beautiful, Tourists To Komodo Island Are Mandatory To Bring Plastic Bags To Waste

Head of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Tourism Office, Zeth Sony Libing/ANTARA

NTT - The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) requires tourists visiting Komodo National Park and Padar Island, West Manggarai Regency, to bring plastic bags to accommodate garbage while in the two tourist sites. "The NTT government is very serious in maintaining the ecosystem on Komodo Island by continuing to maintain natural cleanliness both in Komodo waters and in the Padar Island tourist area," said Head of the NTT Tourism Office, Zeth Sony Libing in Kupang, Antara, Thursday, July 7. He said that so far various types of garbage such as plastic, used canned drinks, and bottles used for mineral drinks, were found carelessly in the two tourist areas, so they looked dirty. "The NTT government is working on a rule that requires tourists who come to Komodo Island and Padar Island to bring their own plastic bags to accommodate garbage," said Zeth Sony Libing. He said the tourists' waste was brought to Labuan Bajo by the tourists concerned, then dumped in the trash cans that have been prepared. Zeth Sony Libing added that officers on Komodo Island and Padar Island always monitor every movement of tourists who come to visit Komodo Island so that no tourists litter. "The government must take firm action against tourists who throw garbage into the sea, let alone throw garbage in the sea, it must be dealt with firmly. The NTT government wants the Komodo Island waters to be free of garbage, so that tourists who want to dive to see the beauty of the underwater world can dive safely," he said. According to him, if the waters of Komodo Island and Padar Island are clean of garbage, the local natural environment will be beautiful and tourists will feel more comfortable.