1Berita News – Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, stated that the Rp150,000 or $10 levy for foreign tourists in Bali will be used to address the waste problem.

The levy of Rp150,000 will be enforced starting February 14. He mentioned that the government must work even harder to ensure that tourist destinations on the Island of the Gods can handle waste issues effectively.

“Starting February 14, we will have a levy, namely a levy of Rp150,000 or $10 specifically for handling waste,” he said in Badung Regency, Bali, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday (1/31).

“Therefore, with this levy, there is no other reason that we should handle our waste better,” he added.

Sandiaga also responded to the viral video of a British tourist complaining about waste in the Kuta tourist area. According to him, the complaint is feedback and a reminder to all relevant parties to manage tourist destinations cleaner and make a more favorable impression on tourists.

“Let’s not keep getting emotional because of those posts. Let’s not discredit those tourists, but it is their good intention. Let’s assume positively that they want to provide feedback to Bali,” he explained.

The Head of the Bali Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, revealed that the waste issue along Kuta Beach is indeed a seasonal phenomenon every November-January.

To address it, the Badung Regency has prepared a fleet to clean up the waste. Additionally, beach managers, along with vendors along Kuta Beach, regularly conduct clean-ups every day.

“Yesterday, even Mr. PJ, the Governor of Bali, led a direct cleanup of Kuta beach together with the TNI-Polri and other stakeholders. It shows that the government’s commitment is truly to keep the tourist destination clean, safe, and comfortable,” he said.