Plastic waste is a significant challenge for tourism in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). In response, the Regent of West Manggarai, Edistasius Endi, has banned tour boats, hotels, restaurants, food stalls, and offices in Labuan Bajo from using plastic bottled or glass drinking water for guests.
This measure is part of an effort to rid Labuan Bajo of the waste problem.
“We really hope that, in the future, ships travelling to the sea will first check that they are carrying glass or bottled drinking water. If they don’t, we will make sure they are not allowed to depart,” Endi said during the launch of the Clean Tourism Movement in Labuan Bajo, as quoted by Antara on Monday, April 14, 2025.
He continued, stating that service providers from tour boats, hotels, restaurants, and food stalls must offer gallon drinking water, complete with glasses, so that guests will not need to bring their own bottled water.
“If drinking water must be taken away, guests will be required to bring their own containers, such as tumblers,” he said.
Specifically for tourist ships, Endi called for strict supervision from the Labuan Bajo Harbour and Port Authority (KSOP). If necessary, the availability of alternative drinking water must be one of the conditions for granting permission for the ship to sail.
He described the ‘Gerakan Wisata Bersih’ (Clean Tourism Movement), which was launched on Saturday morning, as a very positive initiative that must continue.
“Today we begin a new culture. We are showing how important it is to be clean. Of course, this doesn’t stop today. Today is just the foundation. We want to declare that Labuan Bajo can be free from waste. Let’s make a clean Labuan Bajo a reality,” said Edistasius.
Bali First to Ban Plastic Bottled Water
The announcement came after the Bali Provincial Government issued Circular Letter Number 9 of 2025, which includes a directive banning the production of bottled drinking water below 1 litre.
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This was conveyed by Bali Governor Wayan Koster as part of an effort to address the waste problem on the Island of the Gods.
“Every business institution is prohibited from producing disposable plastic bottled drinking water with a volume of less than 1 litre in the Bali Province area,” he explained in Denpasar on Sunday, April 6, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
Governor Koster said this step is not intended to harm local businesses, as many local drinking water producers exist in Bali.
However, he emphasised that these companies must limit their use of materials that damage the environment, and are permitted to produce environmentally friendly substitutes.
Cover: Photo by Zane Holmes/Pexels
