Bali’s Kuta is one of the island’s oldest tourism resort areas. The holiday hotspot has become something of a love-it-or-hate-it kind of destination over the last few years.
Loyal Kuta lovers will tell you they will return to the beachside vacation hangout every year, come hell or high water, while others will concede that they have been lured away by shiny new and fresher-faced destinations like Seminyak, Canggu, and Uluwatu.
Here at The Bali Sun you know we will tell it to you straight. There are some corners of Kuta that look a little worse for wear and certainly show signs of their age.
However, there are so many fantastic things about Kuta that we simply can’t ignore. Incredible value hotels, direct beach access, fewer crowds as everyone heads off elsewhere, and a warm welcome all around.
It’s super close to the airport, and it is well set up for tourists. We can see why the OG Kuta crowd are such staunch supporters of this little pocket of Bali.
Over the last couple of years, leaders have invested in improving Kuta for tourists and local residents. While we can all agree that there is more to be done, we have to take a moment to appreciate the progress that has been made. The Regent of Badung, Wayan Adi Arnawa, who is in charge of top resorts like Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, has been speaking to reporters about Kuta Beach and his vision for the future.
He acknowledged that there is progress to be made in Kuta, and acknowledged that the first phase of investment and redevelopment has to be spent on the practical infrastructural elements that keep a world-class tourism destination running smoothly.
Regent Arnawa confirmed that redevelopment of the Kuta area has already begun, including abrasion mitigation through the construction of breakwaters by the River Basin Office (BWS). The Badung Regency Government is also supporting the redevelopment through its regional budget (APBD). Tourists visiting Kuta over the last few months may have seen the coastal conservation work taking place.
Regent Arnawa is enthusiastic that with the right amount of investment and the right strategic, that Kuta will soon be booming again. He cited the improvements made over in Sanur and how tourist visits dramatically increased in the area. He shared “Now is the time for the Head of the Tourism Office to start revitalizing destinations. Take Kuta, a simple example, which frequently attracts international attention.”
Adding we must be clear about what we do next. This requires thorough mapping and identification. For example, Sanur now has a strong character. Hotel occupancy can reach 80 percent. Why is Kuta losing out? Kuta has a beautiful and expansive stretch of beach.”
Regent Arnawa is calling for the regency government to have greater input into the management of tourism resort areas in Badung Regency. At present areas like Kuta Beach are predominantly managed by the local traditional village council, but he feels that more input is needed from higher authorities. He explained “Going forward, I want the regional government to be able to manage it, of course with consideration for involving traditional villages. This is crucial for proper and sustainable management.”
One of the leading concerns from tourists planning a visit to Kuta Beach and the wider resort area has been the trash. Kuta’s issues with waste management and seasonal tides of plastic trash have hit international headlines over the years and not helped its public impact.
Speaking to reporters this week, the Head of Kuta Traditional Village, Komang Alit Ardana, confirmed tat intensive efforts will continue to keep the area clear of trash, as the island continues to grapple with systematic waste management issues.
Ardana told reporters “It’s clean now. The trash on Kuta Beach, including marine debris and specific waste, has been removed. The Environment and Forestry Department deploys up to 40 trucks daily to collect the trash.” Adding “About 90 percent of Kuta residents are aware. The problem is that outsiders bring waste to Kuta but don’t sort it. This prevents the Environment and Forestry Agency from collecting it directly.”
Ardana confirmed that more formal action will be taken against those found to be dumping trash within the tourism hotspot, explaining, “We’ll continue installing CCTV as we go, in coordination with the Communications and Information Department. We hope to be able to monitor these locations more effectively.”
Minor sanctions for those caught include a fine equivalent to 10 kilograms of premium rice, or approximately IDR 150,000, along with community service obligations. Serious violations are subject to a fine of up to 100 kilograms of rice, or the equivalent of IDR 1.5 million.
Ardana concluded, “This is our collective problem, not just the village head or sub-district head’s. The community must be involved. If we care about the environment, let’s work together. We also offer a solution: waste will be collected if it has been properly sorted.”
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