PATA Indonesia Lombok Tourism Polytechnic Student Chapter: Fighting plastic pollution by supporting UNWTO’s Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI)
Plastic pollution is still the main problem that caused severe environmental damage. Almost 90% of the garbage in the ocean is the result of the contribution of plastic waste. This problem even worsens during the pandemic COVID-19 due to the high use of plastic to cover foods and any items. The government’s regulations regarding health protocols and lockdown have caused a high trend of online shopping especially to buy foods and drinks. To preserve the foods and drinks from any contamination, the sellers usually wrap those foods and drinks with plastics or any disposable packages. This trend continuously becomes a habit that unknowingly creates the amount of plastic waste. In addition, tourism activities contribute to plastic waste through all product packaging activities that are marketed. For example, the hotel provides a bottle of water that used single-use plastic, plastic toothbrushes other items wrapped in plastic.
Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world and is certainly one of the tourist attractions with beautiful beaches and seas scattered throughout the island, which is one of the main sources of income for the community that faces a serious issue when it deals with plastic pollution. In 2021 Indonesia becomes the 3rd largest contributor of marine waste in the world after India and China. This certainly affects the marine ecosystem and biodiversity, also the beauty of the beach could no longer be maintained.
Concerning that issue, Lombok Tourism Polytechnic as a part of a vocational higher institution under the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has the responsibility in supporting and promoting sustainable tourism. Thus, this institution becomes one of the signatories of the “Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI)”. This program is led by United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) that invite tourism actors, government and local community, institution and other organizations to reduce the usage of single-use plastics and switch to reusable plastics, recycle and compost and conduct campaigns on social media regarding plastic waste. By becoming a supporter of the GTPI, Lombok Tourism Polytechnic has responsible to contribute and support the success of this program. Therefore, this institution pointed to the student organization, PATA Indonesia Lombok Tourism Polytechnic Student Chapter to conduct several actions and campaigns in reducing the use of plastics.
PATA Indonesia Lombok Tourism Polytechnic Student Chapter is committed to inviting, spreading and innovating in dealing with plastic waste. One proof of the commitment to the GTPI campaign starts with students. The Student Chapter through its campaign has encouraged students and lecturers on the campuses to bring and use Tumbler (re-usable bottle), use a tote bag while shopping, and campaign to stop using a single-use masks during the pandemic and switch to the reusable mask.
PATA Indonesia Lombok Tourism Polytechnic Student Chapter will certainly continue to increase its contribution to achieving the goals of the Global Tourism Plastic Initiative, either through social media or the activities such as socialization on tourist destinations and organizing a webinar. By participating in GTPI, the student chapter believe that the initiative can improve the tourism environment and implementation the sustainable tourism in Lombok with good plastic management (Maisa & Aul).
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