In May 2024 Bali will host the World Water Forum.
The huge international conference will see 44 Heads of State and their delegations come to the island to discuss the world’s relationships with the liquid of life.
While the World Water Forum is not an event at the scale of the G20 that was held in Bali in November 2022, the huge event will take over some of the island’s biggest resorts and landmarks as over 50,000 representatives fly in to discuss all things water.
The 10th World Water Forum will be held in Bali on the 18th – 24th of May, just before the high season for tourism in Bali really gets underway.
While officials across the island will be working around the clock to ensure that the whole event goes smoothly for delegates and ensure that tourists and locals are not impacted by the conference, there will inevitably be a cross-over between all groups.
With over 50,000 extra people arriving at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, there will be increased airport traffic, traffic on the roads, and demand for hotel rooms.
Speaking to reporters this week, Firdaus Ali from the Ministry of Public Works, Public Housing and Water Resources confirmed that there will be over 290 events held across the seven-day event.
Ali explained, “The meeting in Bali will be a monumental meeting to transform all policies and enthusiasm to jointly face the future by making water a source of life, not a source of disaster.”
Topics up for discussion by top climate leaders, water experts, and policymakers include water security and prosperity, water for humans and nature, disaster risk reduction and management, governance, cooperation and water diplomacy, sustainable water financing, and knowledge and innovation.
One of the most impressive special cultural events that will be held as part of the World Water Forum will be a community melukat ceremony.
Over 1,500 delegates will take part in the Melukat ritual at Melasti Beach on the 18th May 2024.
Melasti Beach can be found at the very southern tip of the Bukit Peninsula, half way between the resorts of Uluwatu and Nusa Dua, where the majority of the conference activities will take place.
Ali explained, “We present local Balinese wisdom because we know that Bali has extraordinary uniqueness. We will present this (Melukat) later on May 18th, 2024, the day before the gala dinner and opening.”
The delegations and world leaders will also be invited to visit the Subak at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces over the course of the event too.
Tourists planning to be in Bali during the third week of May may wish to factor this into their travel plans.
Ali added, “Subak is a model for fair water management. The management of Subak Jatiluwih uses a holistic sustainable agricultural system such as distributing water fairly and evenly to anticipate drought and climate changes that are difficult to predict.”
One of the most exciting aspects of the World Water Forum coming to Bali is the creation and inauguration of the Water Museum in Tabanan Regency; located close to the Subak Museum, the Water Museum has been under construction since late last year and covers over six hectares of land.
More details about how tourists can experience the Water Museum will be released soon.
Water management may not first appear to be an issue of interest to Bali tourists, but water impacts so many elements of a vacation to the island. Water scarcity in the east of Bali is a serious issue for many communities.
Water, whether the ocean, waterfalls or the flooded rice terraces, is a huge draw for tourists to Bali. The health of Bali’s waterways and oceans has a direct impact on the quality of a visitor’s experience.
Only last week, tonnes upon tonnes of plastic waste were washed onto the island’s iconic beaches.
There is hope that the conference can help create new and enduring strategies for water management and water health in Bali and around the world.
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Hns
Tuesday 2nd of April 2024
Reading this it looks to me more a paid and free holiday then a serious congres. 50.000 people that’s more then a small city how will they do this in a sustainable and environmental friendly way.? Suppose they drink every day 1lt water that are 50.000 bottles a day. Ridiculous!!
Ed
Saturday 6th of April 2024
@Hns,
They are saving the planet using tax payer dollars.
Wayan Bo
Monday 1st of April 2024
It’s already known that sea water can be filtered into tap water. In Paris, France, they filter even sewer water before feed it back into tap water system, therefore if in Paris better drink wine 🍷🤣
Exp
Sunday 31st of March 2024
Quote "The delegations and world leaders will also be invited to visit the Subak at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces."
Why so far? They can come and have a look at the subak outside my villa in south Denpasar. A bit smelly as I often spot trash bags dropped into the subak. Not a pretty sight, but I suspect quite realistic.