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Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Iconic Bali beach ‘ruined' after businesses demolished
One of Bali's most iconic surf destinations will never be the same again, as Indonesian authorities have begun demolishing more than 40 businesses along the famous beach. The destruction began on Monday morning as footage emerged of authorities breaking through locked doors and destroying business infrastructure with hammers. The demolition notice comes at a peak time of travel to the island for Aussies, so travellers have been warned that Bingin may not be accessible over the coming weeks. The drastic action begins after dozens of businesses were issued demolition notices in the last two months and were given time to make adjustments in accordance with building regulations. Bali's civil police unit, the Satpol PP, found in an investigation that more than 40 buildings in the Bingin Beach area were violating spatial planning laws and building regulations. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with desperate business owners attempting to halt the demolition orders, authorities have drawn a line in the sand. 'It is true that we have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' Head of the Badung PP Police, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, told reporters, according to the Bali Sun. 'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21, 2025, and continue until it is completed.' With its pristine white sand and world-class barrelling lefts, Uluwatu's Bingin Beach has been a much-loved holiday destination for Aussies to enjoy the surf spots — Impossibles and Bingin— or soak up the laid-back atmosphere. Aerial view of Bingin beach in Bali, Indonesia. Credit: Adobe / pierrick The demolition notices, issued via letter, posters, and WhatsApp messages, affect 45 buildings, including villas, homestays, restaurants, and other tourist facilities. The violations included breaches of spatial planning rules, environmental laws, and alleged encroachment on state land. 'We did this notification in various ways, in order to minimise the reason for ignorance during the execution process,' Head of Investigation Ida Bagus Ratu told local media. One Bingin Beach business owner shared his frustration with reporters. 'If we are considered wrong because we occupy the country's land, then where is the country when everything has been running for over 30 years?' the business owner said. Surfing legend Kelly Slater has aired his frustration at the demolition plans. Credit: Kelly Slater / Instagram Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater is among those in the global surfing community voicing concern on social media. 'Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local (eateries) and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?' he said, alluding to circulating rumours that the removals may be linked to plans for a luxury beach club, though authorities have denied this according to 'Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years. I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.' Bingin Beach is only reachable via steep staircases which traverse through the cliffside buildings marked for demolition and the state of future beach access is unclear.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Demolition begins at iconic Bali surf spot Bingin Beach: ‘Ruined'
One of Bali's most iconic surf destinations will be changed and transformed forever as Indonesian authorities begin demolishing more than 40 businesses along the famous Bingin Beach. Footage emerging from the cliffside tourist hotspot on Monday morning shows authorities destroying bars with hammers and breaking through locked doors. Earlier footage shows local authorities plastering eviction and demolition notices on buildings in a move that has left Australian travellers scrambling and the global surf community in uproar. Government-mandated demolitions were set to begin today at the beloved beach location, following months of failed negotiations between business owners and the Badung Regency Government. is aware of Australian travellers whose bookings at the popular destination have been voided as the demolition begins. The drastic action follows an investigation by Bali's civil police unit, the Satpol PP, which found that more than 40 buildings in the Bingin Beach area, some of which have been there for decades, were violating spatial planning laws and building regulations. After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with desperate business owners attempting to halt the demolition orders, authorities have drawn a line in the sand. 'It is true that we have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' Head of the Badung PP Police, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, told reporters, as per the Bali Sun. 'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21, 2025, and continue until it is completed.' Uluwatu's Bingin Beach has been a pilgrimage site for surfers since the late 1970s, with Australians making up a significant chunk of repeat visitors, and even expats. The beach's world-class barrelling lefts and laid-back atmosphere have made it a go-to within the global surf community, with the breaks Impossibles and Bingin. The demolition notices, issued via letter, posters, and WhatsApp messages, affect 45 buildings, including villas, homestays, restaurants, and other tourist facilities. The violations included breaches of spatial planning rules, environmental laws, and alleged encroachment on state land. 'We did this notification in various ways, in order to minimise the reason for ignorance during the execution process,' Head of Investigation Ida Bagus Ratu told local media. Regent of Badung Adi Arnawa said authorities will follow through on the mandate by the Bali Provincial Government despite widespread public outcry. 'Our community in Pecatu is very aware that they carry out activities on the land. So I hope no one comes to say this and that, pretending to be a saviour, to be a hero. People are aware when building on land that does not belong to them, so it is natural for them to leave the land,' Regent Arnawa stated, as per the Bali Sun. Widespread speculation suggests the removals may be linked to plans for luxury beach club development, similar to those proliferating throughout the Uluwatu area in recent years, though this is denied by authorities. Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater is among those voicing concern on social media. 'Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local (eateries) and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?' he said. 'Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years. 'I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.' Popular citizen journalist social media account among expats, Uluwatu Community, has been leading a campaign against the demolition, declaring: 'Rumors are spreading: is this really about law enforcement or about clearing prime land for bigger investors with deeper pockets?' 'It seems the idea of an 'undeveloped' cliff no longer fits into certain visions for the future.' Among the businesses facing demolition is Kelly's Warung, a beloved eatery perched in front of the famous Bingin surf break. The family-owned establishment, which has operated for 'generations', remains optimistic they will 'be here for generations more.' 'We have been here for generations, same family owned, passed down,' the warung stated. Uluwatu Community added, 'Bingin residents and business owners have hired four lawyers.' 'A legal battle may be just getting started.'
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Bali to clamp down on illegal foreign-owned businesses
DENPASAR: Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has formed a special task force to crack down on illegal foreign-owned businesses, following widespread permit violations by foreign investors that are believed to be harming the local economy. According to Koster, the team will consist of local stakeholders and tourism associations and will be tasked with thoroughly auditing tourism business permits in Bali. "I will also issue a circular that will serve as a legal basis for the Bali Public Order Agency [Satpol PP] and the Bali Police to take action against businesses that violate their permits," Koster said on Sunday (June 1), as reported by Antara. He will also require all travel agencies, including those owned by foreigners, to join the local tourism association to ensure better management and oversight. Koster said the crackdown was essential to protect Bali from 'economic, social and tourism setbacks', arguing that illegal foreign businesses might exacerbate the wealth gap on the island and accelerate the deterioration of the local economy. 'There are numerous challenges facing tourism in Bali, such as traffic congestion, mounting waste issues, illegal villas and rowdy tourists. While we are committed to addressing these problems, the root causes must be tackled upstream through stronger regulations and stricter permit enforcement,' he said. Koster stated that in recent years, he has received numerous complaints about an increasing number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bali being operated or controlled by foreign nationals. According to existing regulations, foreign investment (PMA) businesses must have a minimum capital of Rp 10 billion (US$613,000), excluding the value of land and buildings, an amount that exceeds the capital of MSMEs. Any investment below that threshold is strictly reserved for domestic direct investment (PMDN). However, Koster said many foreign investors have been exploiting loopholes in the government's Online Single Submission (OSS) system for business licensing, allowing them to dominate strategic sectors in Bali's tourism industry, even at the micro level. The government launched the OSS system in 2018 to streamline and simplify the business licensing process, allowing business owners to apply for permits through a single integrated online platform instead of navigating multiple state institutions. However, oversight of the system has been relatively lax, leading to various violations in the field. For example, there have been numerous reports of foreign nationals using the identities of local Bali residents to register their MSMEs through the OSS system. Governor Koster revealed that more than 400 car rental and tour businesses in Badung Regency, a major tourism hub in Bali, are owned by foreign nationals. 'Most of these businesses don't even have a physical office in Bali, and their owners are not based here. This is unacceptable. Bali cannot be treated as a free trade zone at the expense of its own people,' he said. In November, National Economic Council (DEN) chairman Luhut Pandjaitan stated that President Prabowo Subianto had instructed his aides to closely monitor foreign companies operating in Bali and to implement stricter regulations. "Violations of business permits by foreign investors are a serious problem that have created unfair competition and significantly harmed local businesses,' he said. Overtourism and overdevelopment have become serious issues in Bali as tourism returns to the island following the Covid-19 pandemic. Reports of rowdy tourists violating local customs and unlicensed businesses competing unfairly with locals have become increasingly common in recent years. Earlier this month, the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) reported an approximate 20 per cent decrease in hotel occupancy rates, despite the rising number of tourists visiting the island. The association attributed this trend to travelers increasingly choosing 'illegal accommodations', such as unlicensed luxury kos-kosan (boarding houses) and villas. In January and February, Indonesian immigration authorities detained 312 foreign nationals in Bali for visa violations related to problematic foreign investments. A few months earlier, authorities revoked the business permits of 267 foreign companies for failing to meet the Rp 10 billion capital requirement. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
