KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Jakarta on Monday, December 22, 2025, to enforce stricter environmental management across the hospitality and leisure industries.

The agreement was formalized by Rizki Handayani Mustafa, Deputy for Industry and Investment at the Ministry of Tourism, and Rasio Ridho Sani, Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at the Ministry of Environment. The partnership serves as a technical follow-up to a high-level memorandum of understanding signed between the two ministers in May 2025.

"This cooperation agreement will strengthen synergy between ministries, thereby increasing national tourism competitiveness while supporting the sustainable development agenda," Rizki said in a press release on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that "green performance" is no longer just an ethical choice but a critical factor in how international travelers perceive and choose their destinations.

To achieve these goals, a joint task force will be established to modernize the environmental performance criteria for tourism businesses. The two ministries plan to create unified technical guidelines and provide intensive mentoring to companies, ranging from hotels to tour operators, helping them improve their waste management, water conservation, and carbon footprint.

This "mentoring and monitoring" approach is designed to ensure that businesses do not just meet the legal minimum but actively contribute to ecological restoration.

A crucial component of the pact is the exchange of data and information between the two agencies. Rizki noted that involving business players and NGOs in this data-sharing ecosystem is essential for building a tourism industry that is inclusive and resilient.

"Sharing data and information is crucial... to strengthen Indonesia's tourism ecosystem," she added.

Rasio Ridho Sani reaffirmed the Ministry of Environment's commitment to pushing tourism toward an eco-conscious era. He warned that consistency is key to ensuring that environmental management does not slip during peak travel seasons.

"Coaching efforts for companies and the tourism industry need to be continuously strengthened so that environmental management performance can consistently improve," Rasio noted, stressing that the primary focus now is ensuring concrete follow-up on the ground.

By integrating environmental oversight directly into the industrial development of tourism, Indonesia seeks to protect its natural assets from coral reefs to rainforests, while simultaneously attracting the growing global market of eco-conscious tourists. ***