Minister of Tourism: Garbage in Bali will have an impact on foreign exchange, tourists will decrease by 30 percent 

Minister of Tourism (Menpar) Widiyanti Putri Wardhana with Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol/PHOTO: Dafi-VOI

BADUNG - Minister of Tourism (Menpar) Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the impact of the waste problem on the Island of the Gods could reduce foreign exchange or state revenues and have a major impact on the decline in tourist visits to Bali.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Tourism when carrying out cleaning at Kedonganan Beach, Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali, Friday, February 6.

The Minister of Tourism said that Bali tourism contributed the largest tourism foreign exchange in Indonesia. Bali Island must be kept clean from garbage.

"So we have to take care of Bali, our beach. This is from the daily habits of the community not to throw away garbage carelessly and also from the tourism industry to manage their own garbage," he said.

"And also from the local government. We ask for support to always maintain and clean the surrounding areas. Well, so if our destination is dirty, there will be no more tourists who want to come," he added.

He also mentioned that from the study of this waste problem, it could reduce tourism foreign exchange by up to 3 percent more.

"According to studies, it could be 3 percent more that the impact of the decline in foreign exchange and visits," he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked the Ministry of

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) and the Bali Regional Government (Pemda) and all elements involved in the clean-up of garbage at Kedonganan Beach, Kelan Beach to Jimbaran Beach.

"But this should not be just today. It must continue. And if it starts from school, it will become a daily habit, cleaning the destination or the school area, it will become a habit of the community in life until adulthood," he explained.

In addition, his party also appealed to hotels, restaurants and cafes on the island of Bali to manage their own waste. His party has written to the association and the cafe and hotel industry in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Environment and Energy for waste management.

According to him, the impact of garbage in Bali could have an impact on the decline in tourist visits to Bali.

"Of course, it starts on social media, Bali's beaches are dirty. I said 3 percent to 30 percent can be if the decline, the impact is very big, I pity the tourism industry. (But) we are optimistic that the spirit will continue and we can overcome it," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said that cleaning garbage at Kedonganan Beach, Kelan Beach to Jimbaran Beach was one of the strengthening actions.

"Because every day friends from the Badung Regency Government, from the Provincial Government, with the full support of the TNI and Polri have continued to carry out this activity. However, the activity must continue to be carried out systematically, it is not possible that in the morning, the afternoon stops, it seems not like that," he said.