With the arrival of the rainy season in Bali since December 2024, the increasing amount of waste along the island’s famous beaches, particularly Kuta and Legian Beaches, has become a serious concern for many parties. Waste, which comes from river and ocean currents, has been piling up throughout the rainy season, expected to continue until February 2025. Every day, up to 20 tons of waste can be found at Kuta and Legian Beaches, damaging the aesthetics of the beaches and directly impacting tourism in Bali.
In response to this issue, today, BumiKita, in collaboration with Harris Hotel and Residences Riverview Kuta, POP! Hotels Kuta Beach, and several other hotels, carried out a beach cleaning activity at Legian Beach. The goal of this activity is to maintain the cleanliness of the beach and support environmental conservation efforts to ensure Bali remains a beautiful and clean tourist destination.
Waste Conditions at the Beach During the Rainy Season
Bali, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, often experiences an increase in waste around its coastal areas during the rainy season. According to data obtained from relevant authorities, more than 20 tons of waste are found daily at Kuta and Legian Beaches during the rainy season. This waste comes from various sources, including overflow from rivers and debris carried by ocean currents.
The waste not only disrupts the beauty of the beaches but also poses a threat to the marine ecosystem and negatively affects Bali’s tourism industry, which has recovered rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, beach cleaning activities serve as a practical solution to reduce the negative impact of waste and ensure Bali remains an attractive destination for both local and international tourists.
BumiKita and Harris Hotel Riverview Collaboration
Today’s beach cleaning activity involved many parties, including Harris Hotel Riverview and BumiKita, which led the beach cleaning initiative. Dhony Himawan, General Manager of Harris Hotel Riverview, stated that this activity is part of the hotel’s social responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of the surrounding environment.
“As part of the tourism industry, we feel obligated to contribute to maintaining the cleanliness of the beaches and preserving the beauty of Bali. One of our focuses is to care for the environment, and this is a tangible step we are taking to help keep Legian Beach beautiful and clean for tourists and the local community,” said Mr. Dhony Himawan, General Manager of Harris Hotel Riverview.
Meanwhile, Mr. Aksara from BumiKita explained that this initiative is part of BumiKita’s ongoing movement to preserve nature and minimize the negative environmental impact caused by waste. “Bali’s beaches, especially in the Kuta and Legian areas, are places of pride for many people. Through this collaboration, we hope to raise public awareness about the importance of keeping the beaches and the surrounding environment clean,” said Aksara.
Cleaning Action and Positive Impact
The beach cleaning activity began early in the morning, involving a number of volunteers consisting of hotel staff, local residents, and tourists. Participants were provided with cleaning equipment such as trash bags, gloves, and litter pickers to make it easier to collect waste along the Legian beach coastline.
In a few hours, around 2 tons of waste were successfully collected from a large area of the beach, mostly consisting of branches, plastic, beverage bottles, and other packaging. This action not only succeeded in cleaning up the scattered trash but also raised awareness among beachgoers about the importance of maintaining cleanliness.
The positive impact of this activity was felt not only through the cleaner beach but also by contributing to the sustainability of Bali’s tourism industry. A clean beach will naturally attract more tourists who come to enjoy Bali’s natural beauty. The presence of clean and well maintained
areas also becomes an attractive feature for both domestic and international tourists.
The Importance of Collaboration Between Parties
This beach cleaning activity also highlights the importance of collaboration between the private sector, the community, and the government in maintaining environmental cleanliness. Not only hotels and organizations like BumiKita are involved, but in the future, broader community participation will be needed to help maintain the cleanliness of the beaches so that Bali remains a clean and eco-friendly tourist destination.
Additionally, this collaboration shows that the tourism sector is not solely focused on economic profits but also on preserving the environment, which is one of the key attractions for Bali as a tourist destination.
Hope and Future Plans
Through this beach cleaning activity, BumiKita and Harris Hotel Riverview hope to continue contributing to waste management efforts and maintaining the cleanliness of beaches in Bali. Activities like this are expected to set a positive example for other tourism sectors to help preserve nature.
In the future, similar activities will be encouraged not only at Legian Beach but also at other beaches across Bali. It is hoped that through this collective awareness, Bali can continue to maintain its natural beauty and remain an eco-friendly tourist destination.
