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News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Bali doubles down on demolishing hotspot
As one of Bali's most iconic surf and tourist hotspots undergoes demolition, authorities have hinted at what might replace the more than 40 businesses along the famous Bingin Beach in Uluwatu. What was constructed over five decades will soon be no longer as construction begins to tear down buildings that have been deemed 'illegal'. Viral footage shows authorities destroying bars with hammers and breaking through locked doors – the home and workplace of more than 300 locals. The hotspot has also been the go-to location for Aussie surfers and backpackers aware some Aussie travellers have had their bookings voided as the demolition begins. It comes as Indonesian authorities deemed the buildings to be illegal and in violation of planning laws, environmental regulations and to be encroaching onto state-owned land. 'The buildings for tourism businesses here are illegal — that's it,' Bali's governor, I Wayan Koster told reporters last week. 'We should not let this practice continue. If we let this go on, Bali will be damaged.' He said after the demolition, they will assess 'what we can do there'. 'Bingin Beach is a prime beach. I'm sure that once it's renovated, it will become an attraction, whether it attracts surfers or something else,' Mr Koster said. 'At the very least, tourists will want to come, and it will contribute to the wellbeing of the local community.' Widespread speculation suggests the removals may be linked to plans for luxury beach club development, similar to those popping up throughout the Uluwatu area in recent years, though this is denied by authorities. @ 😢 end of an era.. goodbye Bingin Beach. Many iconic venues are now being torn down. Was this the best solution? #bingin #binginbeach #bali ♬ lucid - zensei ゼンセー Footage shows Mr Koster wielding a sledgehammer outside the luxury Morabito Art Cliff boutique hotel as he took the first ceremonial swing in the government-issued demolition. Condemned buildings include timber warungs (food sellers), bars with distinctive Javanese joglo-style roofs, and more contemporary accommodations, built into the escarpment on the Bukit Peninsula. Local workers can be seen crying as dozens of officials get to work dismantling the properties. Ombak Warung Bingin, a small, family-owned business, argued authorities 'destroyed hundreds of people' and have left them unemployed. 'Why the rush? Why couldn't you have given us more time? Intimidation, pressure while we try to pack up,' they said in an Instagram post. 'Local, Families, Generations are affected. Tourists came for the Warungs and this unique beach. Where is the JUSTICE! 'Why couldn't there have been a better solution we are all Human and who decides what is right and wrong. Where is the Concrete going to go?' @ pemerintah kabupaten Badung bersama pemprov Bali, membongkar sejumlah vila dan restoran tak berizin di pantai Bingin, desa Pecatu, kecamatan, Kuta Selatan, pada, Senin, 21/7/2025. #SaveBingin #LawEnforcement #PantaiUntukRakyat #BaliBerdaulat #TolakPerusakAlam #TertibkanBali #SaveBingin #beachbingin #bali ♬ Shadows of Us - Gustavo Iltemberg Business owners – including Australian expats – argue the structures predate planning laws, many constructed under the island's traditional adat laws, which give control to the village. One Australian owner, who was warned that foreigners could be deported or jailed for joining protests against the demolitions, admitted the legitimacy of rental agreements was always in question, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported. 'We always knew Bingin could be taken away – that's part of what kept it humble. But we didn't think it would happen so quickly,' said the owner, who asked to remain anonymous. Some of the more than 300 locals affected filed a lawsuit against the Badung Regency government. According to the AFR, those bringing the case argue that priority should be given to Balinese adat law, under which many Bingin business owners were granted informal approval or written permission to operate. After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with desperate business owners attempting to halt the demolition orders, authorities put their foot down. '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. '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, according to the Bali Sun. 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.' Bingin Beach is only reachable via steep staircases weaved through the cliffside buildings marked for demolition and the state of future beach access is unclear.
ABC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Bali officials begin demolishing Bingin Beach tourist spots, declaring 'none of them have permits'
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."
ABC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Bali officials begin demolishing 'illegal' villas and restaurants in Bingin Beach
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."
