BOGOR, Indonesia — President Prabowo Subianto has called out Bali’s waste failures, warning that poor waste management and mounting garbage pollution now pose serious tourism risks for Bali and threaten Indonesia’s international image.

Speaking at a national coordination meeting between central and regional governments in Bogor on Monday, Prabowo said cleanliness remains a decisive factor for foreign visitors. He stressed that Bali’s waste problem—once seen as seasonal—has become a structural issue that directly undermines the island’s appeal as a global tourism destination.

“No tourist comes to see garbage. Bali’s beaches are dirty now,” Prabowo said, emphasizing that the situation is no longer acceptable for a region marketed as Indonesia’s tourism flagship.

He revealed that senior officials from South Korea who recently visited Bali expressed disappointment over visible waste conditions in tourist areas. Prabowo said he took the remarks as valid criticism and urged regional governments to confront the issue collectively rather than downplay its impact.

“I take this as criticism. This is something we must address together,” he said, while apologizing to Bali’s regional leaders present at the forum and underscoring the urgency of corrective action.

Responding to the remarks, Bali Governor Wayan Koster acknowledged the concern and pledged immediate steps to strengthen waste management. He explained that much of the garbage found on Bali’s beaches is carried by rivers during heavy rainfall, often delaying cleanup operations.

Koster said the provincial government would deploy a dedicated coastal task force and intensify coordination across agencies. He added that Bali already has sufficient waste management infrastructure and vowed to accelerate enforcement as scrutiny over the island’s environmental condition continues to grow.