Bogor. President Prabowo Subianto on Monday criticized Bali’s local government over what he described as weak waste management, warning that the problem threatens Indonesia’s tourism sector and the country’s global image.

Speaking at a national coordination meeting between central and regional governments in Bogor, Prabowo said hygiene and cleanliness remain key considerations for foreign tourists and directly influence perceptions of Indonesia.

“No tourist comes to see garbage. Bali’s beaches are dirty now,” Prabowo said during the meeting.

He recounted conversations with senior officials in South Korea who had recently visited Bali and expressed disappointment over its cleanliness.

“They told me, ‘Your Excellency, I just came from Bali. Bali is so dirty now,’” Prabowo said. “I take this as criticism. This is something we must address together.”

Apologizing to Bali’s regional leaders present at the meeting, Prabowo stressed that the issue was real and required immediate collective action.

Responding to the remarks, Bali Governor Wayan Koster pledged to take swift steps to tackle the waste problem in coordination with provincial authorities.

He said much of the garbage washing up on Bali’s beaches is carried by river overflows during heavy rainfall and that cleanup efforts often take time.

“I will form a task force to be on standby along the beaches,” Koster said.

He added that the Bali provincial government has adequate infrastructure to address waste management challenges and would intensify efforts to restore the island’s cleanliness amid growing scrutiny.