Bali officials begin demolishing Bingin Beach tourist spots, declaring 'none of them have permits'

Australia Broadcast Center

4 days ago

Officials have begun destroying beachside villas and restaurants in a Bali tourist hotspot after more than 40 businesses and buildings were assessed to be "illegal".
The proposed crackdown on "illegally built" buildings at the world famous Bingin Beach in Uluwatu — an incredibly popular destination for Australians and global surfers in southern Bali — finally came to fruition on Monday.
Unable to bring in heavy machinery due to the buildings' steep cliff-side construction, local workers — aided by police — began smashing tables and doors to smithereens during the government-enforced demolitions.
Piercing through the usual sounds of surf and busy bars, were the screams of Balinese men and women desperately trying to protect their businesses.
Surrounded by officials and local media, Bali's governor, I Wayan Koster, said almost 50 businesses and buildings would be demolished under the crackdown.
"The buildings for tourism businesses here are illegal — that's it," he said.
"We should not let this practice continue. If we let this go on, Bali will be damaged."
Employees, business owners, locals and tourists watched on in horror, many of them shouting and wailing.
Amid this chaos, a Balinese woman screamed out.
"This is how the bureaucrats work. They've demolished our livelihoods."
These demolitions are a dramatic flashpoint as Bali grapples with extraordinary demand from tourists, a construction gold rush on the island, and calls to better preserve its natural beauty.
It comes as visitor numbers to Bali recover to pre-pandemic levels, with 2025 on track to set an annual record of international tourists of more than 6.3 million.
Uluwatu has been a popular destination for decades, known for its amazing surf breaks, white beaches and clifftop views.
In the last few years, Uluwatu, like much of Bali, has seen a rapid transformation, with villas, restaurants and cafes springing up on its cliffs to cater to the booming tourism industry.
A mixture of Indonesian-owned and foreign-backed businesses have been cashing in.
In the last few months, media reported Bali's local government ruled that a swathe of villas and businesses in Bingin Beach were constructed illegally.
One local government chair said the buildings "hurt the Balinese architectural philosophy that prioritises harmony with nature, culture, and spirituality".
That kicked off a dispute over their legality, with local officials issuing "self-demolition" orders in recent weeks.
Business owners have told the ABC that six Australians are business partners of some of the villas, bars and restaurants under the demolition orders in Uluwatu.
When the businesses didn't demolish their own buildings, Balinese officials moved in on Monday with sledgehammers.
"There's been a violation of the rural planning master plan, this area is meant to be part of the green-belt," Governor Koster said.
"These buildings here, none of them have permits."
As the restaurant of the Morabito Art Cliff Villa was being levelled, its manager, Komang Agus, said the demolitions showed no empathy.
"One thousand people at Bingin Beach are losing their jobs right now," he said.
"There's no justice for us. Development projects continue out there … why are we being targeted?"
Some locals say they feel the land is being cleared for developers.
On the morning of the demolitions, protesters waved signs that read: "Save Bingin, stop the demolition. Bingin is our home — not for sale!"
Another manager of the restaurant being destroyed on Monday, Komang Ayu, said she was now uncertain how she would look after her family.
"I have two small children and a husband. I'm also taking care of both parents, they are old," she said.
"I heard rumours that Bingin will be demolished and rebuilt bigger … but I am not sure whether they will recruit us."
Business owners told the ABC they felt there should have been a longer period of consultation, given some of the businesses have been around for decades.
I Wayan Salam Oka Suadnyana, the owner of one of the businesses being demolished, said his mother started the business as a kiosk in the 80s.
"I have an old picture of her and the kiosk, she started it when I was five years old," he said.
"We knew that this land belonged to the local government, we don't hold a land ownership certificate … but we have contributed in developing the tourism industry here.
"After all that has been established, now the government wants to take the rights back?
"We just want a win-win solution from the government, we want fairness for us all. We pay taxes monthly."
The manager of the villas and restaurant, Aldo Rama, said about three dozen of his colleagues would lose their jobs.
"We have contributed a lot to develop this beach and contribute incomes for the local government through tax," he said.
"I feel so sad, not just me, but all the workers in Bingin Beach feel so sad.
"This will affect Bali's image, especially people who want to stay in Bingin Beach."
One Australian surfer said it was sad to see the demolitions unfold.
"As a surfer travelling to Bali and experiencing this place, its people and culture, it's a little bit sad this morning to see all these people upset," he told the ABC.
"Bali is developing at a really rapid rate, so how that happens, who is in charge and what decisions get made can be a very complex process, and I think we're seeing that unfold here today."
Another Australian said she felt the day would go down in the history of Bali.
The 48 business owners have launched legal action in a bid to protect their properties.
But Bali's governor said a reckoning was coming for everyone.
"[Our] office is preparing an audit team to investigate all tourism licenses across Bali," Governor Koster told media and the crowd.
"If any violation is found, we will correct them, firm and hard.
"Of course, through the legal process first."