Bali's authorities are increasingly working to tackle the island's three main issues: waste, traffic congestion, and the inappropriate behavior of some tourists. Bali Governor Wayan Koster highlighted these priorities in Nusa Dua during his speech at the country's largest travel fair — the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2025.
Koster stated that all governmental efforts are currently focused on making the island comfortable and safe for visitors. He believes that tourism in Bali is becoming increasingly sustainable and culturally oriented. Despite the existing problems, tourist numbers are not only holding steady but also continuing to rise. According to the governor, Bali welcomed 6.4 million foreign tourists in 2024, and at least 7 million are expected in 2025.
Nevertheless, the island's leader acknowledges the issues and promises to address them promptly. The priorities are ecology, transport, and safety.
Regarding waste, the governor referred to the launch of the 'Waste-Free Bali' program, already supported by Indonesia's Ministry of Environment. The initiative aims for a comprehensive waste management approach with active involvement from all public structures, from village administrations to hotels, markets, schools, and religious institutions. This includes banning the production and sale of bottled water under 1 liter, which is intended to reduce plastic waste. The goal is to achieve a completely waste-free island by 2027.
The second issue, particularly pressing in tourist centers, is traffic congestion. Koster announced the introduction of new traffic schemes, changes to school and office start times, and a ban on daytime operation of freight vehicles, which can now travel around the island only after 10 p.m. Additionally, underground interchanges are planned for the most congested areas of Denpasar and Badung. The design phase will begin this year, and construction will start next year.
The third challenge the governor mentioned is the behavior of "misbehaving tourists." In collaboration with the police and immigration service, a special inter-agency group has been set up to monitor incidents and take action. In the first four months of 2025 alone, more than 400 people have been deported for failing to comply with rules and laws. Authorities emphasize they are not aiming to "frighten" visitors but prioritize safety, cultural respect, and public order.
Koster noted that negative headlines in the press about waste, traffic, and guests' inappropriate behavior have not affected foreign tourists' interest in Bali.
“These issues are our internal tasks, and we are handling them. The world's response is the growing number of visitors. This is our motivation to continue,” he said.
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