1 Badung to tighten rules on hotels

The Badung regional administration will soon enforce a new regulation to deal with the construction of accommodation, including the enforcement of stricter environmental assessment studies, permit issuances and building areas. Badung Regent AA Gede Agung said during a recent meeting with individuals from the tourism industry that the administration was strongly committed to enforcing sustainable tourism development programs in his regency, contrary to the uncontrolled construction projects currently there “There are many investors who have built tourist accommodation in very small spaces. 

This is not about building hospitality facilities. They only want to sell rooms instead of providing an atmosphere of comfort and leisure,” the regent said. The new regulation will apply to the number of required rooms, aesthetic factors, parking lots, environmental assessment studies and other aspects. Gede Agung said that the administration frequently received dozens of proposals for the development of accommodation facilities on areas of up to 500 square meters. 

“It’s a crazy idea. Badung is rich in natural beauty and tourism sites. Accommodation facilities, however, should not come cheap.” Badung regency, the richest regency in Bali, has been the target of harsh criticism, especially from academics and environmentalists who say the administration has sold its own land to large-scale investors. The current development of a range of accommodation, from starred hotels to small rental rooms, has caused serious environmental damage and an oversupply of hotel rooms across Bali. 

The regent and his administration have been blamed for issuing permits easily for damaging development schemes. Gede Agung admitted that some irresponsible investors had given inaccurate information and data on their building plans. “They have cheated our officials, saying they would build in a certain way, but in the field they built different styles and construction designs,” the regent said. Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, along with experts and people in the tourism industry, has frequently called upon the Badung regent to impose a moratorium on the development of new accommodation in the regency. 

Tjok Raka Darmawan, head of the Badung Tourism Office, told Bali Daily that the space for tourist accommodation should be at least 2,500 square meters with a maximum of 50 rooms and the architectural style of new buildings must adopt traditional Balinese architectural concepts.

source : bali daily