A Sad Sight for Sore Eyes

(3/26/2011)

Bisnis Bali reports that foreign tourists visiting Bali continue to complain about the lack of cleanliness in many tourist areas of the island.

Nyoman Kandia, the head of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Guide Association (HPI), recently called on the government and the public to join forces in addressing the problem of trash in Bali which has become the source of numerous complaints from foreign visitors served by the island's tourist guides.

Kandia complained that people living in tourist areas of the island still lack the consciousness needed to take a proactive role in handling the problem of trash and garbage. He cited how local practice still tolerates unrestricted littering, a practice found offensive by visitors coming from societies where such practice is considered a criminal act.

Reflecting this anti-trash consciousness, governments in Europe install trash disposal receptacles in all public places.

As shown in the accompanying picture, recently taken at a busy intersection near the entrance to Nusa Dua, trash is thrown on street corners with impunity and allowed to collect into large unhygienic piles.

Kandia called for an urgent response to the problem of trash with funding provided from the provincial budget to create litter barrels in all public places and at the island's tourist attractions. Kandia also urged that trash receptacles be divided into organic and non-organic barrels to encourage recycling.

The leader of Bali's professional guide association warned the government that the problem of trash is becoming so acute that it threatens the island's image and its tourism fortunes in the future.