Not for the first time, and probably not for the last time, Bali is
pushing to restrict new hotel development on the popular south of the
island.
This time, however, things are different. Balinese officials are
happy for hotel development applications to be ticked off by the central
government in Jakarta, leaving local district heads in a consultative
role.
The island’s acting governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya wants a 1-2
year moratorium on new hotel development in areas including Denpasar,
Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan to help the island’s fragile environment.
A quick check on Google shows that as far back as 2010 - when there
were fewer visitors to Bali than there are today - the Bali Tourism
Board was calling for a halt on building new hotels, “until the island’s
infrastructure can cope with more tourists”
The call by the then governor, I Made Mangku Pastik, for a
moratorium on new hotel development did not receive the agreement it
needed from nine local district leaders.
District authorities are responsible for issuing building permits.
Fifteen years later, Indonesia’s tourism and creative economy
minister, Sandiaga Uno, has confirmed the moratorium proposal will be
reviewed by his ministry and discussed at an upcoming Cabinet meeting.
“The consultation process will include local leaders and community
stakeholders. Given the current emergency situation, building permits in
South Bali will be centrally regulated,” the minister said.