“Keeping the beaches clean not only benefits the environment but also supports economic activity and has a positive impact on tourism,” he added. “We are grateful for the President’s attention to Bali’s beach rubbish issue, especially at Kuta Beach,” Mr Koster said. “I recently met with several foreign leaders in South Korea, and they shared their criticism about Bali’s beaches. A 2019 study revealed that only around 48 per cent of Bali’s waste is properly managed through recycling or landfilling. Following Mr Prabowo’s criticism of Bali’s beach waste problem, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhani announced that the ministry will expand beach clean up initiatives to popular tourist destinations across Indonesia.

Source: The Star February 06, 2026 19:21 UTC