Bali Governor Wayan Koster has announced that he will establish a new provincial law to help protect the island’s coastal regions from environmentally damaging tourist developments.
Governor Koster has long been vocal about his intention to crack down on tourism development that threatens Balinese culture and the local landscape.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster has publicly announced this week that he and the provincial government will be drafting three new regional regulations (Ranperda) that will help protect Bali’s coastal regions and water quality.
Speaking to the media, Governor Koster stated that the Draft Regional Regulation on Coastal Protection and Coastal Boundaries has been drafted due to the increasing restrictions on public access to coastal areas that have long been centers of traditional and religious activities.
His concern not only lies with access and the environmental impact of major tourist development in coastal areas, but also the effect such infrastructure has on local communities and their access to sacred coastal sites.
Balinese Hindus have a reverent relationship with the ocean, and many of Bali’s top tourist beaches were sites of sacred importance long before holidaymakers arrived.
Governor Koster described the increasing pressure on the province’s coast due to both development and tourism activities, which in the past have disrupted local ceremonies, rituals, and social activities.
He shared, “The coast and coastal boundaries are religious, socio-cultural, and economic spaces for the community, and their use as public spaces is now increasingly under pressure.”
One aspect of the newly drafted laws is the establishment of the Kerta Bhawana Sanjiwani Regional Public Company, a regionally-owned enterprise (BUMD) specifically designed for clean water and wastewater management.
Governor Koster described the establishment of this water BUMD as a strategic step aligned with the regional development vision of “Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali.” He shared, “Water is the source of life, so ensuring the availability and quality of clean water is a fundamental obligation of the regional government.”
The focus on creating new regional laws to help curb the impact of tourism development on coastal regions is just the start of the major steps taken by Governor Koster this month.
The Governor has also met with the Indonesian Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Todotua Pasaribu, on investment governance, regulating foreign direct investment (PMA), and consolidating central and regional governments in licensing services.
Governor Koster has been clear that he wants to crack down on the negative impacts of foreign investment in Bali and to eliminate foreign investors who are breaking the law or operating in grey areas of immigration and investment policy.
Deputy Minister Todotua gave his backing to Governor Koster, sharing, “We must balance and regulate foreign investors so they not only do business but also make real contributions to the region and the country.”
The meeting resulted in a landmark move between the central government and provincial government to open a dedicated licensing services desk for Bali as part of the Online Single Submission system.
It has long been noted by leaders in Bali that the Online Single Submission system, which is managed by the central government and grants permits and licences for the biggest development projects in the country, bypasses any on-the-ground checks in Bali.
This has led to some major tourism developments being given the go-ahead without the nod of approval from local Bali-based government agencies.
Deputy Minister Todotua explained, “Consolidation between the central and regional governments must be swift. High-risk licensing, including through the Online Single Submission (OSS) platform, must be more focused, measurable, and expedited.”
He confirmed that the central government is supporting Bali in cracking down on international investors found to be violating the law.
He explained, “We have already revoked hundreds of permits, ranging from those detrimental to MSMEs to those violating local wisdom. The central and regional governments cannot act in isolation. Protecting local businesses must be a priority.”
Governor Koster concluded with a warning to foreign investors who are flouting the law, especially those running accommodation and villa businesses in Bali.
He shared,”It’s unfair to those who are disciplined. I will take firm action against those who violate the law and support those who are disciplined. We support investment, but it must be controlled, and there will be no mercy for violators.”
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Shorty
Wednesday 26th of November 2025
'Governor Koster announced a new law....'
How many times to we read that? How many times are there existing laws not being enforced?
Proclaiming a new law, is the old political gambit of being seen to be doing something while do nothing.
The filing cabinet on property law must be overflowing.
New all embracing property law with teeth and commitment should be written. Building on foreshore setbacks, Green Areas, significant religious places....
When it's had thorough examination and discussion, proclaim it. In the preamble announce all previous property laws and amendments are rescinded.
carson
Monday 24th of November 2025
Elevator at dream beach in Bali to be demolished again. FOCUS online editorial team Monday, 24.11.2025, 04:49
A white steel skeleton on a dream bay in Bali has sparked a lot of trouble. Now the planned glass lift is to be demolished again. Will the unclouded look back on the T-Rex cliff?
A controversial glass elevator on one of Bali's most famous and most photographed coastal cliffs is to be demolished again. The governor of the Indonesian island, I Wayan Koster, ordered the dismantling of the semi-finished project after a long time back and forth. The reason is several violations of environmental and building regulations. The white steel skeleton had sparked severe controversy in recent weeks - mainly because it was slaying the once glorious view. What was it about?
The 180-meter-high building was to let tourists descend in glass cabins to the famous “T-Rex rock” on the small neighboring island of Nusa Penida. The cliffs on Kelingking Beach form - from above - a giant dinosaur head with its mouth open. On Instagram and on other social networks, hundreds of thousands of images of the iconic motif circulate under hashtags such as #kelingkingbeach and #trexcliff.
The elevator was mainly intended to facilitate the arduous descent: tourists had repeatedly crashed on the steep path. Around 70 percent of the plant was already completed, when the local authorities stopped the work at the end of October. The reason was missing permits and possible violations of environmental and planning rules. Six months time for demolition
The company PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development now has six months to completely remove the lift, Koster told reporters. “If the company does not carry out the demolition within the specified deadline, the provincial government, together with the district of Klungkung, will carry it out in accordance with the law,” the governor stressed. After the dismantling of the tower, the developer would have to restore the site to its original state within three months.
Koster emphasized that the decision is part of a larger initiative to protect nature, culture and social values in Bali – and not anti-investment. “Bali needs investment, but they have to be done with decency and responsibility,” he said. Construction projects should “love and protect Bali and not exploit it.” The Hindu-influenced “Island of the Gods” has been suffering for some time from the increasing pressures of mass tourism.
Jason
Saturday 22nd of November 2025
What a joke.
In a business we set up here we did everything by the book. All the proper licences and paperwork.
Cost us a lot of time and money.
We had 4 or 5 Russian owned business open quickly near us. Zero paperwork, they just threw cash at the various authorities.
We still have to pay police every month, been shaken down by Banjar and by Customs officers.
Another decree by the Governor that will come to naught. How about investigating these businesses and the officials?
There are hundreds of stories like this, why do the proper paperwork if you can just pay officials off?
carson
Monday 24th of November 2025
@Exp, well in Europe you pay 60 to 78 % taxes to municipal and state thugs who are much worst criminals than balineses.
Exp
Saturday 22nd of November 2025
@Jason, "We still have to pay police every month, been shaken down by Banjar and by Customs officers."
That sounds about right. Had experience with all three. Customs can be really nasty sending an email stating some crazy "fee" must be paid immediately. While trying to sort it out they charge exorbitant daily "rental rate" at their storage. Straight up blackmail.
There is a term "area basah" or wet area which officials fight to be posted at as in these areas they will be rich. Bali tourists zones surely are "area basah". This is why no police can be found in areas populated by locals. Not a single police, never.
The Russians fit in right away as this is like their home country.
carson
Saturday 22nd of November 2025
Far too late for that, best beaches have been ruined already.
Shorty
Saturday 22nd of November 2025
How about enforcing the existing laws?