Here at The Bali Sun we like to tell it to our readers straight. While the island is easily one of the most beautiful and impressive destinations on earth, it is also struggling to resolve a series of infrastructural issues that have long been impacting both local communities and tourists.
Leaders in Bali are now calling on international support to create sustainable solutions that help both people and the landscape.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster has met with the British Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Matthew Downing to discuss the special relationship between Bali and the UK.
Bali is visited by an increasing number of British citizens every year and the meeting served as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations in terms of the tourism sector.
Last year, approximately 270,000 British tourists visited Bali, and this figure is forecasted to increase to 350,000 by the end of 2026.
Deputy Governor Downing told reporters, “This meeting was extraordinary. We were in Bali for a consulate gathering and are grateful for the excellent cooperation and protection provided to our citizens.”
During the meeting, Governor Koster and Deputy Ambassador Downing explored the UK’s offer of support with implementing transportation technology and a behavior-based waste management system in the province. Downing confirmed that the UK is offering support through the Future Cities Infrastructure Programme, which would be a collaboration with the Bali Provincial Transportation Agency.
The program includes assistance with feasibility studies and the use of digital technology for traffic management which is one of the most challenging problems Bali is facing and has been facing for many years.
Deputy Governor Downing explained, “We use a digital platform and a virtual replica of Bali Island, containing data on buildings, roads, and tourist destinations. This technology allows for real-time monitoring of tourist movements and simulations of the impact of infrastructure development.”
He added that it is not only for traffic and transport management that the UK can offer the province assistance, but in terms of waste management too. This is another issue that is famously been hard to resolve in Bali. Deputy Governor Downing added, “We are ready to assist through waste management, recycling, and behavioral change education consulting.”
Governor Koster told reporters,”British tourists are among the top 10 visitors to Bali. Generally, European tourists are very friendly, disciplined, and don’t cause many problems.”
He added, however, that Bali will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to any foreigners found breaking the law or disrespecting local culture in Bali, irrespective of their nationality.
Governor Koster shared, “Violations by foreign tourists are currently declining. For British tourists, based on the data, no significant violations have been found.”
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Speaking to the infrastructural issues that the province is facing, the Governor pledged to have them resolved by the end of this, his second term.
He told reporters, “My target is to resolve the waste problem within the next two years. By 2030, we will see significant changes in traffic management and infrastructure.”
Tourists traveling to Bali, irrespective of their nationality, must be aware that these infrastructural issues regularly impact vacation itineraries and travel plans.
While the island’s issues with waste management are largely out of sight, at this time of year, due to the rainy season, it is common for tides of plastic trash and ocean debris to wash up on the island’s most popular tourist beaches, including Jimbaran, Kuta, and Legian.
Officers work from the early hours of the morning to clear the debris as quickly as possible so that tourists can enjoy the beachfront that they traveled so far to enjoy.
The traffic management issues are almost unavoidable to tourists in one way or another during a trip to Bali. Here at The Bali Sun, we always advise leaving more time than the GPS suggests when traveling by road, especially when driving to Bali Airport to catch a flight, or if driving across the island for day trips, experience or accommodation check-ins that have a specific time allocation.
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