0 Vendors’ income drops due to bad weather

Workers along the island’s famous Kuta Beach are seeing a significant drop in their daily income as the weather continues to fluctuate, causing a decrease in the number of tourists visiting the site. John, a surfboard renter on the beach, stated that he had barely any customers in the last two weeks, saying that the weather had caused high waves and strong winds around the beach. 

“No one’s coming, the waves aren’t good for swimming or surfing,” said John on Sunday. “I’m not getting any income.” John, who has been doing this job for seven years, said that the bad weather happened every year, but was always frustrating. Due to the conditions, he said he closed his place at around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., while he normally closed at 6:30 p.m.“I usually look at the waves first. 

If they are very high, I just go home at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m.,” he said.Despite being nearly always flocked with both domestic and foreign tourists, Kuta Beach is currently deserted, as visitors seem reluctant to come during this inclement weather. The beach was full of waste and branches brought onto the shore by the strong current. To reestablish the image of Kuta Beach — one of the island’s tourism icons — several companies and organizations have been assisting the Badung Sanitation Agency, the authority overseeing the issue, to clean up the site. 

Besides cleaning up the mounting waste, events have been aimed at sending a message to the public to maintain cleanliness at tourism destinations. In 2013, the agency said it collected more than 3,500 tons of waste from beaches in the regency. The peak was at the end of 2013. It said that waste on Kuta Beach could reach up to 20 tons per day, an astonishing increase from the normal 250 kilograms per day. According to John’s experience, the trend would continue until mid-March. 

Similar to John, Anis, a beverage seller on the southern side of the beach, said she was experiencing a 70 percent drop in income as visitors were decreasing. On regular days, Anis said she could reap up to Rp 150,000 (US$12.40) in net profits from selling cold drinks, and even more during peak seasons. “I only get Rp 30,000 to Rp 40,000 now,” she told Bali Daily. “Transportation and the ice cubes cost me Rp 20,000. So I only have around Rp 10,000 to Rp 20,000 left for my daily expenses,” she said. Anis said her only hope was domestic tourists, especially school tours, to buy drinks.

source : bali daily