DENPASAR ~

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika convinced the US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake that Bali will be a clean and organic tourist destination in the future.

“Through programs of ‘Bali Mandara’ that is to realize the island of Bali into Organic and Green Province, one day it will be the most desirable destination throughout the world,” Pastika said, during the visit of Robert Blake, in Denpasar on Monday.

Pastika added that to achieve these objectives, Bali provincial government has conducted several programs such as targeting the creation of 1,000 units of Integrated Farming Systems (Simantri) which currently more than 500 units has been established.

Through this program is expected to produce organic fertilizer which is sufficient for farmers in Bali and could reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

In the energy sector, the Government of Bali Province has also begun to develop a solar electric energy that has been developed in Bangli and Karangasem Regency.

In addition, the governor plans to create a policy that at least 10 percent of the energy used in public offices must come from solar energy.

One day Bali provincial government would also advise all government employees to use electric vehicles, so they can conserve fuel and reduce pollution.

“In processing waste, until now there are two plastic garbage processing plants that can process plastic waste into useful items.”

Subsidies will also be given to the schools and villages across Bali that want to collect plastic waste to be submitted to the plastic waste plant, he said.

Through the passage of this program, Pastika believed that one day Bali will be clean and organic. Pastika added that the promotion of tourism is very important, but the promotion can be done without traveling abroad, but it’s better if it can be done by keeping the destination, either the nature or the culture.

While the United States Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake, who was accompanied by US Consul General in Bali Monserrete, greatly appreciated the programs implemented by Bali provincial government.

He worried about the garbage problem and he suggested that the garbage may need to be managed by each village, so no need to make a large landfills.

In addition, he wanted a good cooperation between Bali and the United States, not only in the field of tourism but also security issues, particularly the issue of terrorism.

Cooperation of “sister province” pioneered between Bali and Hawaii over the years, is expected to be able to provide great benefits for both regions.