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Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking scenes as iconic Bingin Beach surf spot in Bali is destroyed
Aussies heading to Bali have been left in limbo as an iconic attraction is demolished, sparking an outpouring of anger and devastation from locals. For decades, thousands of international tourists have flocked to Bingin Beach, an idyllic and laid-back surfing spot on the Indonesian holiday island. Almost 50 local businesses were recently served demolition notices, after a government investigation ruled the developments were illegal due to a violation of planning laws and building regulations. Business owners have spent weeks fighting for survival after the Badung Regency Government announced the demolition orders would proceed within days. Authorities have been true to their word, with multiple videos on Monday showing dozens of officials in high-vis gear and hard hats storming into businesses. One clip showed Bali Governor Wayan Koster proudly smashing down a door with a hammer while surrounded by media crews and delighted officials. Other videos showed distraught locals fighting back tears as they watched their beloved businesses and livelihoods be destroyed. Aussies staying in Bingin Beach have been left scrambling to book alternative accommodation, with villas and homestays among the businesses impacted. 'We have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' Badung PP Police head Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara said. 'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21 and continue until it is completed. '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.' Authorities have deployed 500 officers to undertake the demolition, which will ramp up in the coming weeks, the Bali Sun reported. Eleven-time surfing world champion Kelly Slater was among the many Aussies devastated by the news of the demolition works. '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 wrote on social media. '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.' The close-knit community has launched legal action and vowed the fight was far from over. 'Our hearts are breaking watching this happen to such a magical place,' community group Save Bingin Beach posted on Monday. 'It's not fair to the local people, who now have to watch their businesses and livelihoods being smashed and torn down. We can't stay silent – we must keep fighting. We must save Bingin.' A petition against the demolitions has received almost 14,000 signatures. 'If this demolition proceeds, hundreds of Balinese families face the risk of losing everything, from their businesses and homes to their sole source of income,' it states. 'What's at stake isn't just the physical structure, but the future of a destination that has grown and developed organically by the local community over more than 40 years, becoming the globally recognised Bingin Beach.' The Bingin beachfront remains open, along with businesses that haven't been impacted by the demolition orders. Locals have urged overseas tourists not to make matters worse by getting involved in the community protest. Foreigners caught protesting against the government can be slapped with an automatic two-week jail term, followed by immediate deportation.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Pay up': Warning for tourists headed to Bali
Bali made a record-breaking $87,000 in one day from the Tourism Tax Levy earlier this year, and with an influx of international visitors expected to descend on the island throughout 2025, the government is reminding tourists to 'pay up'. The island introduced the 150,000 IDR ($15) Tourism Tax Levy fee in February last year with plans to use the money to help protect Bali's culture and customs, as well as protecting the island's natural environment and sustainable tourism practices. Data from the Bali Provincial Government revealed the province received IDR 168 billion in revenue between January and June 2025 – about $A16 million. Bali governor Wayan Koster said on one record-breaking day, Bali received IDR 933 million – $A87,000. According to The Bali Sun, he told reporters if this trend continues, the potential annual revenue is estimated to reach IDR 340 billion. Aussies still make up a huge chunk of overseas visitors, with travel data shared by Ngurah Rai Immigration revealing 344,639 Aussies visited the island in January to March. However, while the island continues to attract plenty of tourists, in turn boosting its economy, not everyone is contributing to the tourism tax, with as few as 35 per cent of visitors having paid the mandatory fee by the end of the first year of the policy. According to Time magazine, Mr Koster said those who fail to pay the fee may face consequences ranging from being denied entry to attractions, fines, or even deportation. He said he is working with a range of stakeholders, including in the hotel sector, to ensure the funds are spent in ways that benefit Bali residents, the environment, and tourists. Tourists are encouraged to pay the fee before arriving to Bali via Love Bali – part of the official government website. Travellers will need their passport number and email address handy. There is also the option to select 'Group' if travelling with family or friends. Each member will then be emailed a unique QR code. The payment can also be made on arrival at Bali's main airport – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. However, some have complained it adds an extra step in the arrivals process. The goal of the tourism tax is to help the government 'preserve the integrity and balance of Bali's nature, its people, and their culture'.
Straits Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Bali to clamp down on illegal foreign-owned businesses
All travel agencies, including those owned by foreigners, will need to join the local tourism association to ensure better management and oversight. PHOTO: EPA-EFE JAKARTA - 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 Mr 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 and the Bali Police to take action against businesses that violate their permits,' Mr Koster said on 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. Mr 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. Mr Koster stated that in recent years, he has received numerous complaints about an increasing number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) i n Bali being operated or controlled by foreign nationals. According to existing regulations, foreign investment businesses must have a minimum capital of 10 billion rupiah (S$791,000) 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. However, Mr 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. Mr 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 2024, National Economic Council 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 in June, the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association 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, the authorities revoked the business permits of 267 foreign companies for failing to meet the 10 billion rupiah capital requirement. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia comes to the Netherlands as Europe's first Balinese temple opens near Amsterdam
The first Balinese Hindu temple in Europe has formally opened in the Netherlands , a move that symbolises cooperation between the two regions and aims to encourage tourism to the Indonesian island. Advertisement The Santa Citta Bhuwana Temple – located within Overijssel province's Taman Indonesia, a zoological garden some 125km (78 miles) northeast of Amsterdam – offers a gateway to the island's traditions for both its diaspora and a wider European audience. Bali Governor Wayan Koster, who attended the formal opening ceremony on Saturday, personally brought the ceremonial items needed for the temple's purification ceremony, according to The Bali Sun. The inauguration coincided with Hari Raya Kuningan, an auspicious day on the Balinese calendar when ancestors are believed to ascend back to the heavens after 10 days on earth, and saw a large turnout. Close to 300 Balinese Hindus attended the opening of Pura Shanta Citta Bhuwana in the Netherlands. Photo: Instagram/@tamanindonesia Koster expressed hope that the temple would become a vital spot 'not only for the sake of holidays but as a means of gathering to develop a sense of family and togetherness among the Balinese people'. Advertisement The Netherlands is home to a large Indonesian community, a legacy of the Southeast Asian country's long history as a former Dutch colony.
