RRI.CO.ID, Bali - Indonesia’ Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, has encouraged tourism industry players to adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as part of a strategy to strengthen competitiveness while advancing sustainable tourism in Indonesia.

Opening the Eco Tourism Week – Wonderful Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Industry Forum (WI-STIF) 2026 on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Widiyanti said that strong ESG implementation is becoming an increasingly important factor in attracting investment. Today, investors and international partners are not only evaluating economic returns, but are also placing significant emphasis on environmental sustainability, social impact, and good governance.

“We hope more tourism businesses will be encouraged to adopt ESG principles and view sustainability as a long-term strategic investment,” the Minister said.

According to her, the government continues to undertake various concrete measures to promote sustainable tourism development across the country. These efforts include environmentally friendly infrastructure projects, such as waste management systems in Labuan Bajo, revitalization programs like the Waterfront City Pangururan area at Lake Toba, as well as environmental restoration initiatives and carrying-capacity assessments for tourism destinations.

The Ministry of Tourism is also implementing the Clean Tourism Movement as a priority program aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of cleanliness and sanitation in tourist destinations.

The initiative aligns with the Indonesia ASRI Movement (Safe, Healthy, Clean, and Beautiful), launched by President Prabowo Subianto to strengthen national waste management and create cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable environments for both residents and visitors.

“Therefore, I hope this forum will strengthen collective awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism and encourage all stakeholders to play a more active role in building cross-sector collaboration,” the Minister said.

She emphasized that the most important outcome would be the creation of innovations, partnerships, and practical solutions that accelerate Indonesia’s transformation toward a more sustainable tourism future.

Meanwhile, Suzy Hutomo, Co-Founder of Eco Tourism Bali, said that Ecotourism Week is not merely a discussion platform but also a venue for strengthening collaboration among stakeholders in implementing sustainable tourism practices.

“Too often we talk about ideas and concepts. Through this forum, we want to focus on solutions and real implementation. Various important topics will be discussed, ranging from ESG to regenerative tourism through diversity, sustainable operations, and positive impacts for communities,” Suzy said.