The waste situation in Bali, a popular Indonesian tourist destination, is under intense scrutiny after President Prabowo Subianto publicly reprimanded Governor Wayan Koster and local officials.

Prabowo stated that the island's cleanup measures were "inadequate", leading to unsatisfactory results. The president also noted receiving numerous complaints from high-ranking international figures regarding the island's cleanliness.

"I met many important figures, ministers, generals, sometimes even soldiers, and they spoke frankly. They said Bali is too dirty now, it's no longer beautiful," the president stated on 2/2 to regional officials. Prabowo accepted these criticisms and shared photographs of beaches covered in trash in 12/2025.

Trash covers Kuta beaches in Bali, Indonesia, on 23/1. Photo: EPA.

"Indonesia is very beautiful, tourists want to come, but they see slums. They want to visit Bali, but Bali's beaches are full of trash. How can tourists come if they see such waste?" the president asked.

He stated that Governor Koster had responded "slowly" to the waste problem, despite having full authority to mobilize 4,5 million island residents for cleanup activities. The president also warned he would deploy the military for regular cleanup campaigns if the Bali administration failed to meet requirements, and declared the launch of a "war" against waste.

However, even as Bali officials hastily launched beach cleanup campaigns, experts warned that the waste problem is systemic. The causes stem from overtourism, a lack of enforcement, and limited environmental awareness among some local residents.

In 1, the Bali island administration proposed a regulation requiring international tourists to declare their financial status for the past three months. This proposal is considered Bali's most assertive step to date, aiming to limit low-spending visitors and promote a "quality tourism" model.

Last year, Bali welcomed 6,9 million international visitors, a 9% increase compared to 2024. Also in 2025, the Bali administration implemented several strict measures to address inappropriate conduct by international tourists and the increasing number of visa violations.

Bali is currently on Expedia's 2025 list of "most relaxing resort islands", attracting not only tourists but also a large number of foreigners living and working remotely. Last year, the island welcomed 6,3 million visitors – exceeding its population of 4,3 million. Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism aims for 6,5 million arrivals this year.