Following a national directive to tidy Indonesia’s streetscapes, Bali’s governor announces plans to limit excessive signage, aiming to preserve the island’s natural aesthetic for visitors.
In the wake of a broad national call to beautify Indonesia’s public spaces, Bali’s Governor I Wayan Koster has pledged swift action to address one of the island’s most pervasive forms of visual pollution: the unchecked proliferation of banners, billboards, and commercial signage. The move comes as a direct response to pointed observations made by President Prabowo Subianto during a major government coordination meeting this week, framing the issue as critical to maintaining Bali’s core appeal.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 National Coordination Meeting in Sentul, Governor Koster welcomed the presidential directive. “That’s very good because Bali is a tourist region, it must be clean and tidy,” Koster stated. He outlined an immediate plan to convene officials from Public Order (Satpol PP) and the Trade and Industry Office to engage with business operators. “I will soon sit down with them to invite business actors to reduce banners, billboards, advertisements, and so on that are disorderly. The number will be limited in certain places,” he explained.
A Presidential Critique: From Fried Chicken to Scenic Views
President Prabowo’s remarks, part of a wider push for an “Indonesia Asri” (Beautiful and Green Indonesia), highlighted the jarring contrast between natural scenery and commercial clutter. Using vivid examples, he questioned the necessity of oversized advertisements that dominate skylines. “Fried chicken, order one, get one free. Why does it have to be so big?” he asked, referencing a specific promotional banner.
The President’s critique extended beyond a single location, naming several cities, including Bali, where the problem is prevalent. He argued that the primary experience sought by tourists is compromised by such visual chaos. “Tourists who come do not want to see banners,” Prabowo asserted, reminiscing about Bogor’s former beauty. His instruction to regional heads was clear: engage business associations, create sensible regulations, and clean up main thoroughfares.
Bali’s Balancing Act: Commerce vs. Curb Appeal
Governor Koster’s announcement signals an acknowledgment of this tension between unfettered commercial expression and the curated environmental experience that forms the bedrock of Bali’s tourism brand. The challenge is to regulate without stifling, a balance the Governor seemed confident in striking. When asked if limiting signage would impact local revenue, he dismissed the concern. “Not at all, sales will not drop without excessive billboards. It’s not a problem.”
For Bali’s international residents and visitors, the proposed crackdown on visual clutter may resonate as a positive, if long-overdue, step. The sight of tangled cables and competing oversized advertisements along key roads often stands in stark contrast to the island’s marketed image of spiritual and natural harmony. The President’s blunt statement—that people come to Bali “to see Bali,” not giant fast-food logos—encapsulates a sentiment many have quietly shared.
The coming weeks will test the implementation of this new resolve. Success will depend on effective dialogue with the business community and consistent enforcement. If achieved, it could mark a subtle but significant shift toward preserving the visual serenity that visitors travel across the world to find, ensuring that the island’s man-made elements complement, rather than compete with, its legendary natural beauty.
