Denpasar. Acting Governor of Bali Sang Made Mahendra Jaya has proposed a moratorium on the construction of tourism accommodations in Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan (Sarbagita region). The proposal, submitted to the central government, seeks to reorganize the sector and promote sustainable tourism.

“The Bali provincial government has proposed a moratorium on the construction of hotels, villas, nightclubs, and beach clubs in Sarbagita for 1-2 years to the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs. We need to reorganize,” Mahendra Jaya said recently in Denpasar.

He emphasized that the proposal aims to foster high-quality tourism in Bali. It also addresses concerns about the conversion of rice fields into commercial areas and the Online Single Submission (OSS) licensing system, which often bypasses local authorities.

"I was shocked when I saw viral TikTok videos of cliff-cutting and the sudden appearance of large beach clubs in Tabanan and Denpasar. We had no knowledge of these developments," he said.

Mahendra Jaya also highlighted the rapid land conversion and the widespread sale of alcohol in small shops, which has led to incidents involving intoxicated foreigners.

The Bali government hopes that a central government meeting, led by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, will result in a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) to implement the moratorium and regulate land conversion.

So far, the central government has responded positively to the proposal, particularly given the issues that have gone viral on social media. The moratorium also aims to address the influx of foreign workers taking local jobs due to unregulated permits.

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno expressed his support for the moratorium, acknowledging that certain areas in Bali have become overly congested.

“We continue to educate the public on this matter. We hope the community will support this initiative. We are committed to ensuring high-quality and sustainable tourism,” Sandiaga said Monday.