Authorities in Bali have demolished 48 illegal business premises in the Bingin Beach area of Pecatu Village, Badung Regency. The demolition, carried out on Monday, 21 July 2025, targeted villas, hotels, homestays, lodgings, and restaurants built without the necessary permits.
Bingin Beach is a well-known destination among international surfers and travellers seeking a quieter and more natural environment.
However, the Bali Provincial Government has identified several tourist facilities in the area that were constructed in violation of land use regulations, including buildings erected on coastal sand and state-owned land.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster confirmed plans to take similar action in nine other locations across the island.
“There are nine locations, but I don’t want to disclose them here. We will discuss [closing them] later,” he told a plenary meeting at the Bali Governor’s Office on Monday, 28 July 2025.
He explained that the existence of suspected illegal buildings was based on direct field observations and that the provincial government was awaiting recommendations from the Bali Regional Parliament before proceeding.
“Thank you very much to the council for conducting such frequent inspections. I urge you to continue this. There are still several locations that, once the council issues recommendations for action, I will follow up on,” Koster said.
Balangan Beach Under Scrutiny
Lihat postingan ini di Instagram
Following the Bingin Beach demolition, the Bali Provincial Police (Satpol PP) announced that they had identified 23 restaurants in the Balangan Beach area of Ungasan Village, South Kuta District, Badung Regency, suspected of similar violations.
Bali Satpol PP Chief Dewa Nyoman Rai Darmadi said these establishments were built on coastal sand, mirroring the situation at Bingin Beach. “We are currently collecting data on Balangan Beach.
Similar to Bingin Beach, it is built on coastal sand. Preliminary data shows there are 23 restaurants. Most of the restaurants are located there,” he told Kompas.com on Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
Darmadi added that his team was still gathering further evidence and seeking recommendations from the regional parliament before proceeding with demolition.
“Just wait for it because we are currently completing and collecting data and information from the integrated team. Since we are not working alone, we are also expanding the provincial integrated team and the regency integrated team to ensure that the activity is indeed appropriate and must be demolished as such,” he said.
Coordination Before Demolition
The Satpol PP is working alongside the Licensing Department, Environmental Department, and other government agencies to verify the permits of the identified businesses. Darmadi emphasised that it was “not the right time” to disclose the nine additional locations mentioned by Governor Koster, as coordination and verification were still ongoing.
“In Balangan, which we are currently documenting, we will coordinate with the DPR as well. (The number of illegal accommodations) is temporarily recorded as 23. (The nature of the violations is the same as at Bingin Beach) they are built around the beach, which is state-owned,” Darmadi explained.
He reiterated that enforcement action would follow once the documentation and verification process was complete.
“Just wait for now because we are still compiling and gathering data and information from the integrated team to ensure that the activities are indeed appropriate and should be dismantled as such. Because they are built on state-owned land, along the coastline like in Bingin,” he said.
Photo cover: Wikimedia Commons
