Mahayuning Loka Bali
As the morning mist lifts over Besakih Village, I Wayan Degdeg begins his day by cleaning a small family shrine in his yard. Like thousands of Balinese, he continues to uphold Hindu traditions despite the rapid transformation brought by tourism.
By the end of 2023, Bali had firmly regained its position as Indonesia's leading tourism destination, welcoming more than 5.2 million international visitors and millions more domestic travelers. Yet behind this recovery lies a growing environmental challenge. The island now generates approximately 1.6 million tons of waste each year, including more than 300,000 tons of plastic waste, while less than half is properly managed.
The crisis extends beyond well-known tourist destinations such as Kuta and Seminyak. In Besakih Village, home to Bali's largest and holiest Hindu temple, daily religious activities and tourism generate approximately 7.5 tons of waste. Without adequate infrastructure, technology, and public awareness, much of this waste ends up in open dumping sites, threatening both the environment and the well-being of local communities.
To address this challenge, the GoTo Impact Foundation, in collaboration with the Catalyst Changemakers Ecosystem, launched Sukla: Mahayuning Loka Bali—a circular economy initiative that combines waste processing technology, plastic recycling, and community education. The project aims to improve waste management while encouraging households and pilgrims to adopt more sustainable practices.
These photographs were made during an assignment for the GoTo Impact Foundation, documenting the people and collective efforts working to restore Bali not only as a world-renowned destination, but also as a healthier and more livable home for its communities.
