The State News Agency Antara quotes the interim Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, saying that a recommendation from the Central Government to impose a moratorium on the construction of new tourist accommodation in South Bali could be imposed for 1-2 years.
If implemented, the moratorium would apply in Denpasar, the capital, and the regencies of Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan (Sabargita).
Mahendra Jaya added: “The provincial administration of Bali has made a recommendation to the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment (Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan) that the proposed moratorium is for 1-2 years on the new building of hotels, villas, discotheques., and beach clubs.”
Before a meeting of Bali’s Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIMPI-Bali), the serving Governor defended the proposed moratorium as needed to preserve and promote quality tourism.
Overbuilding of hotels and other accommodations is not the sole matter at stake in the current controversy. Also of concern is the widespread conversion of agricultural lands and rice fields into commercial sites for hotel and villa accommodation using the Online Single Submission (OSS) system, which is criticized for often bypassing local government.
Officials admit they are surprised to see videos on Tiktok showing how developers demolished an ancient cliff face in South Bali with heavy earthmoving equipment. The officials insist they received no warning on that project or news of other plans to open large nightclubs in the Regency of Tabanan and Denpasar.
The Governor commented further: “We see the huge-scale conversion of land use, the unregulated sale of liquor from small street-side businesses, and foreigners, who should limit their alcohol purchases to restaurants and hotels, buying cheap booze from small traders and then getting drunk and acting up.”
The Provincial Government of Bali hopes the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, will convene a limited meeting with Provincial Leaders in Bali and issue new regulations as Presidential Decrees.
“Hopefully, after the coordination meeting, presidential instructions will be issued regarding the moratorium on the construction of hotels, villas, discos, and beach clubs, as well as addressing land conversion in the Sarbagita area for the coming 1-2 years,” said the acting Governor.
Sang Made foresees the central government responding positively to the proposal for a moratorium on the construction of tourism accommodation because of the many problems that have occurred and gone viral on social media.
In addition to development matters, loosely regulated building permits allow foreign nationals to take local jobs. The government wants to largely revamp Bali’s tourism policies over the coming two years,
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