Bali’s former governor, Mangku Pastika, has been talking to reporters about his reflections on how Bali has been changing over the last few years.
The former governor, who served from 2008 to 2018, has said that poverty is not welcome on the paradise island of Bali and that the incoming government needs to do more to support local people.
For many, Bali is seen as an idyllic island paradise, perfect for vacations and honeymoons, and a place to rest, reset, and plan out big new chapters in life that are often hidden from the view of many tourists and visitors to Bali, the hard realities of day to day life for thousands of people across the province.
Although compared to many other provinces across Indonesia, Bali sees a lower percentage of people living below the poverty line, Ex-Governor Pastika wants to see more done to achieve health and prosperity for the Balinese people.
Pastika explained that while Bali is known internationally as a stunning tourism destination, this image must also be coupled with the reality of local people’s lives.
He told reporters, “Karangasem is the poorest area in Bali, followed by Buleleng. Therefore, it must be a primary concern for leaders in Bali, both at the provincial and district levels.”
With a local population of 4.2 million people, around 4% of the population is living in abject poverty. Pastika explained, “Around 200,000 people in Bali still live below the poverty line on an island that is often called heaven. This is inappropriate.”
He is calling for incoming political leaders to think about the real people behind the figures, noting that focusing on the macro level does not always translate to an understanding of what life is like for those in Bali living below the poverty line.
Pastika explained, “Macro is important, but we have to look at the micro. When we go down to the field and to people’s homes, the conditions are still far from adequate, especially in Karangasem.”
Pastika shared a nod of approval for some of President Subianto’s new policies but wants to ensure these promises are truly delivered.
Pastika’s gave a nod of support for the establishment of the Agency for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
He also called for more to be done to fully break the cycles of systematic poverty and for the government to do more than to offer up quick but unsustainable fixes for communities, families, and individuals in need.
According to Pastika, there needs to be an integrated effort to provide jobs, improve education, and access to health for the poorest communities in Bali.
He explained “After being given a house, if they don’t have a job, the cycle of poverty will continue. So, there must be jobs. Agriculture, animal husbandry, or small businesses that can increase their income.”
He concluded with a firm warning. “Leaders who allow poverty to occur, their sin is very great. If not noticed, the leader will be cursed.”
Many leaders and communities across Bali feel Pastika’s concerns, and it is an issue seen by many returning and frequent visitors to Bali who often go out of their way to support many of the local people they meet on vacation, whether they be hotel staff, drivers, guides or private accommodation, hosts.
The newly appointed Minister for Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, has already revealed her commitment to helping to improve the human resources infrastructure within the tourism sector that she feels will help create more jobs for young people across Bali and feed into more sustainable economic and tourism growth in the province.
Minister Wardhana spoke with reporters earlier this week and shared, “We first want to hear from all stakeholders, ministries, and tourism experts to design our tourism transformation.”
She added, “I want to improve human resources in priority destinations by establishing excellent schools and hopefully improving the quality of human resources in the area so that they can get decent jobs.”