Tourists traveling around Indonesia are often facing difficulties to find decent, clean toilets.
Microlax Indonesia, in partnership with Dentsu Indonesia, recently launched BuktuPup — short for “Book to Poop” — a peer-to-peer toilet rental microsite. It helps to connect travelers with clean and accessible restrooms hosted by local residents.
The initiative, the first of its kind in the country, offers an innovative answer to the widespread challenge of finding hygienic facilities, particularly in rural and tourist-heavy regions.
Accessible via a user-friendly website, BuktuPup allows users to browse nearby toilets based on location, photos, user ratings, and testimonials. Travelers can also select the type of toilets they are expecting to find.
213 toilets across 27 tourist destinations
Once a suitable toilet is selected, bookings are made directly through WhatsApp, linking travellers with hosts in real time.
Importantly, the platform integrates Google Maps’ public toilet database to expand coverage, ensuring reliable access even in more remote areas. Since its launch, the microsite has expanded its network to 213 toilets across 27 tourist destinations.
Beyond improving travel comfort, BuktuPup also empowers local residents. By opening up their home restrooms to visitors, hosts can earn extra income — creating a community-driven model that benefits both sides.
“We understand how uncomfortable it can be to deal with constipation or bathroom issues while travelling,” said Indra Sugiharto, Senior Brand Manager at Microlax Indonesia. “BuktuPup not only helps users find clean restrooms. It also provides an immediate way to interact with our product in a meaningful, helpful context.”
The campaign also reflects Microlax’s strategy to build up brand awareness. Travelers encountering difficulties can now discover and use Microlax products inside the booked facilities.
For Cipta Purnamagiri, Creative Group Head at Dentsu Creative Indonesia, the project stands out for its practicality and community impact. “BuktuPup addresses a universal travel issue in a fresh, creative way, while directly involving and benefiting local communities. It’s a great example of how insight-driven ideas can lead to real change.”
As tourism continues to grow in Indonesia, especially in lesser-developed destinations, platforms like BuktuPup may prove essential in bridging (potential) infrastructure gaps!
