Bali Hotels Given Ultimatum As Poor Waste Management Threatens Top Tourist Resorts 

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Some of Bali’s most popular hotels have been issued with an ultimatum by the Indonesian Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.

The government minister has called on tourism leaders to take responsibility for the waste that their business operations create, and he has issued top hotel owners with a clear objective. 

During a meeting chaired by the Indonesian Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, during a meeting of representatives of hotel general managers in Bali, the island’s starred hotels were issued a clear warning. Minister Nurofiq and his team visited Bali to conduct a coasting on environmental performance assessments in the hospitality sector. He told reporters, “Based on Law Number 18 of 2008, area owners are asked to finish their own garbage. Garbage is not allowed to come out except for residues that are charged to the local government, in this case, Mr. Governor and Mayor.”

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Minister Nurofiq suggested that the issue of overflowing landfills, like Bali’s biggest open landfill site, Suwung TPA, is being put under even more pressure due to waste generated by the tourism sector. He told reporters, “We tried to check the condition at the Suwung landfill, and it turned out that the amount of waste reached 1,800 tons/day based on the incoming trucks. So where does this garbage come from if the population is only 1.1 million people served by the Suwung TPA?” 

The minister was working from official figures which show that the the total population of Badung Regency and Denpasar City is around 1.1 million people, multiplied by the national waste production conversion of 0.5–0.7 kg per person per day or even with the highest conversion rate of 1.33 kg per person per day which would suggest that the amount of waste production for Badung and Denpasar should be around 1,300 tons per day.

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Minister Nurofiq was clear that the vast majority of the excess waste production of 500 tons per day comes from the tourism sector, which is most highly concentrated in Badung Regency and Denpasar, two regions that have been served by the Suwung TPA, amongst others.

For this reason, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Bali Provincial Government are set to implement a series of waste management compliance measures for each hotel in Bali.

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Speaking in response to orders from the environmental minister, Bali Governor Wayan Koster shared his regret at the attitude of the hospitality industry and tourism actors in Bali, which he told reporters are not considered to be ‘obedient enough’ in encouraging efforts to preserve the environment, especially in terms of waste management.

Governor Koster told reporters that Bali is beloved by international tourists for its unique culture and environment. He noted that sustainable waste management is a vital part of preserving Balinese culture and the natural environment, which are so closely connected.

Governor Koster shared, “Without culture, don’t expect Bali tourism to grow. So if we want Bali tourism to be good, we must preserve the culture. Number two that we must protect is the ecosystem: nature and its environment must be kept clean. Next, the infrastructure must also be good.”

Minister Hanif has now given three months’ notice for tourism accommodation owners, especially for star hotels in Bali, to handle their garbage. We have evaluated all elements, including the responsibility of these star hotels in Bali, Denpasar City, and Badung Regency. Later in the afternoon, we will discuss the results of the evaluation.”

He confirmed that the crackdown will first focus on star hotels since they have a higher turnover, which means they also produce larger volumes of waste compared to private villas, guesthouses, and B&Bs.

The minister confirmed that he will not hesitate to impose sanctions, considering the severity of the garbage condition in Bali. Minister Nurofiq concluded, “Bali is important; every wrong step that we tolerate, then there is also damage that will definitely happen.” Adding “So that for Bali with enough local wisdom that is not found elsewhere, we must take this step.”