The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism will accelerate the rollout of the Clean Tourism Movement 2025 in Bali.
The government-run program, which is already in operation in destinations like Lake Toba, Borobudur Mandalika, and Labuan Bajo, will help ensure that Bali’s top tourism destinations and attractions are clean and hygienic for visitors.
The response from the government comes after tides upon tides of plastic waste have been washing up on Bali’s most popular family-friendly beaches, from Kuta to Jimbaran.
Speaking to reporters from Kuta Beach during a community clean-up operation, top civil servant for the Minister of Crisis Management for the Ministry of Tourism, Fadjar Hutomo, explained that, in the eyes of the government, the seasonal trash tides have little to do with ‘less than optimal‘ waste management in the province.
Hutomo explained, “Geographically, Indonesia is currently experiencing a west wind season, and Bali is no exception. So, the garbage at Kuta Beach is garbage sent from the sea due to the season. Not because of the non-optimal waste handling,”
However, he did not deny that it is the responsibility of the national and provincial governments to improve the situation.
Hutomo explained, “Of course, waste handling is a part or domain of the Ministry of Environment, [and now] this correlates with the Ministry of Tourism. It is very significant because this is related to waste handling in tourism destinations, which has become an issue from year to year.”
Speaking to the media during the Kuta Beach Clean Up this weekend, the Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, explained, “We will supervise this shipment of waste in Kuta Beach until April. We will intervene with the support of tools and funding if necessary.”
Other top political figures also attended the Kuta Beach Clean Up, including the Regent of Badung and soon-to-be Deputy Governor of Bali, Nyoman Giri Prasta, the Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, and the Minister for Food of the Republic of Indonesia, Zulkifli Hasan.
Hasan praised the collective effort of the community and the authorities in coming together to respond to the recent tides of plastic waste that had been washed up in Kuta and around the central southern coast.
He shared, “I know that Bali has a strong philosophy, the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy, but of course, it cannot be done alone. As an archipelago with a very wide coastline, of course, cooperation is the key to maintaining our place.”
“This waste is an extraordinary problem if not addressed. Waste will disrupt the marine environment, disrupt public health, of course, disrupt tourism, and of course, disrupt food self-sufficiency because later there will be more waste than fish.”
Late last week, as a high tide receded on Kuta Beach, thousands of small fish were stranded on the shoreline, having been tangled in the ocean debris that had washed up on the beach.
Regent Prasta shared his gratitude for the united front and especially praised the Environment and Cleanliness Service (LHK) for their dedication.
He explained, “The existence of this activity reflects that the state is present in the midst of society in overcoming the problem of waste. The Badung Regency Government remains committed to overcoming and cleaning up waste in tourist destinations in Badung Regency.”
He concluded, “Once again, thank you to all parties, both from the TNI/Polri and environmental activists who have been maintaining the cleanliness of Kuta Beach.”
It was not only on Kuta Beach, where communities and authorities came together to clean up tons of plastic trash and ocean debris but on Kedonganan Beach and Jimbaran Beach, too. Led by environmental NGO Sungai Watch, the Emergency Clean Up ran in shifts over Saturday, 4th, and Sunday, 5th of January.
Speaking to reporters, Sungai Watch Community Manager Luh Putu Anggita Baruna Putri explained that the organization had connected 25 tons of waste between 24th – 31st December and that over the weekend, over 2,000 volunteers had come out to help.
She explained, “We also had a chat with local people here, around the last 30 years. This year, the garbage was the worst. So we really need the government’s help to implement the rules and seriously handle the waste problem because we can’t do clean-ups continuously every year.”