Turning Dirty Beaches into Beautiful Tourist Spots

Kompas/Angger Putranto

Members of the Samudera Bakti Fishermen’s Group clean up Bangsring Beach on Monday (29/1) as part of their efforts to maintain Bangsring’s marine tourism and conservation areas in Banyuwangi, East Java. As a result of local residents’ independent efforts at maintaining the cleanliness and comfort of the area’s tourist attractions, Banyuwangi regency was recently recognized by the 2018 ASEAN Tourism Standard Award for Clean Tourist City.

Concerned locals have helped turn the dirty Bangsring beach in Banyuwangi into a beautiful tourist destination.

Banyuwangi regency was named the cleanest tourist city by the ASEAN Tourism Standard Awards, which was held in Thailand, recently, an achievement made thanks to the involvement of locals.

The sun had just appeared over the eastern horizon when fishermen started combing Bangsring beach in Banyuwangi, East Java, recently. With their bare feet running down the sand, they picked up trash wafted by the waves overnight.

Within an hour, they had collected bags of trash. The garbage had washed up from the ocean. The waves carried drift wood and household waste. During particular seasons, the garbage collected can fill a dump truck.

Clearing the beach of waste has become a routine activity of locals in search of ornamental fish every morning. They work voluntarily. They are well aware that the trash, especially plastics, pollute the environment and ruin the landscape.

"I often find plastic bags stuck on the reefs we plant under the sea. Plastics are very annoying and they sometimes even trap fish. The trash also damages the scenery. Its uncomfortable walking on the beach and finding baby diapers stranded on the beach, "said Yoyok, a fisherman from Bangsring.

A similar movement was carried out by residents and fishermen at Watu Dodol beach, the Boom beach, and Cemara beach. Five years ago, they were used to dumping garbage in the sea. However, now, they express more concern. "I really care. I never litter, and I even pick up trash on the beach. Our livelihood relies on this beach,” said Masruroh (47), a housewife from Kampung Pakis village, Banyuwangi. The woman sells young coconut at Cemara beach.

Kompas/Angger Putranto

Members of the Samudera Bakti Fishermen’s Group clean up Bangsring Beach on Monday (29/1) as part of their efforts to maintain Bangsring’s marine tourism and conservation areas in Banyuwangi, East Java.

Helped by tourism

Conservation efforts and tourism have contributed to the livelihoods of locals. Initially, fishermen in Bangsring were concerned that the environmental damage around them—such as trash being scattered in the sea and coral reef being damaged by bombs, would cause the fish to disappear.

Once the conservation efforts began, environmental conditions slowly improved.  Tourist activities increased. "Previously, the income of fishermen reached only Rp 200,000 a day, now they can earn  Rp 500,000 a day from renting out diving tools and providing tour guide services," said Mislianto, a fisherman from Bangsring.

The Banyuwangi administration has also rejuvenated a slum area into a tourist spot. Boom beach is among places that have undergone changes. It took five years to rejuvenate the beach.

"Previously no one would go to Boom beach. Slum areas were widely used for dates, but now it is so clean and orderly," said Nuraini (35), a resident living near the beach.

The Banyuwangi administration also encouraged people to contribute through a festival. Hosting the Clean River Festival in Kali Lo river was among efforts of the administration. Every year, there is a stage raised by the river for a river cleaning competition. The Jeding Rijik Festival was also held, during which people competed to clean public toilets.

Banyuwangi regency was named recently the cleanest tourist city at the ASEAN Tourism Standard Awards. Besides Banyuwangi, Surabaya and Bandung previously received similar awards.

Despite the regency’s successes, the regent of Banyuwangi, Abdullah Azwar Anas, still believes trash is an issue.

Banyuwangi must also carry the same movement in other tourist areas. In addition to the beach in Muncar, the same activity could also be carried out in Ijen.

The Banyuwangi flagship tourist attraction is not totally free of waste, especially during the weekend when the number of visitors increases.

(NIT)