This New Legislation Is Helping Protect Bali’s Natural Beauty For Tourists  

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Bali is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands in the world. The verdant rice terraces, dense tropical jungle, and azure blue waters that surround the island have long been the picture postcard of a paradise getaway for millions of tourists.

What makes Bali quite so special is that ancient cultural practices and values are still deeply engrained into society today, and these structures are helping keep the island’s charm alive. 

Unlike many big tourist destinations around the world, Bali is not home to any skyscrapers. This is because traditional customs dictate that no building may be taller than a coconut tree or 15m tall.

This cultural rule has been written into legislation since 2009 and is not due for review until 2029.

The Bali Province Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 16 of 2009 concerning the Bali Province Regional Spatial Planning Plan for 2009-2029 dictates on a local level how buildings for tourism and other purposes may be constructed. 

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The legislation outlines that “in 95 paragraph 2 (b) it is explained that the height of buildings that utilize the air space above the earth is limited to a maximum of 15 (fifteen) meters.”

“Except for public buildings and special buildings that require a height requirement of more than 15 (fifteen) meters, such as towers transmitters, high voltage electricity poles, lighthouses, towers of religious buildings, buildings for aviation safety, defense and security buildings.”

“other special buildings for public safety and security purposes based on an assessment taking into account security, comfort and harmony with the surrounding environment, and coordinated with related agencies.”

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This is why many of the resorts and large hotels in Bali are built in such a way that honors the natural environment.

It is not only this law that dictates the height of the buildings in Bali. The legislation was influenced by the ancient guiding principles of Balinese Hinduism.

Bali’s traditional governing system is conducted in alignment with the Tri Hatha Karana concept.

This guiding principle emphasizes that all action must be conducted with harmony between humans, nature, and the spiritual world in mind.

Everything must be done in the vision of creating balance and equanimity. 

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Many buildings in Bali, especially those in the tourism sector, are built with Tri Hatha Karana in mind. So, how does this connect to the height of buildings?

To implement Tri Hatha Karana in architecture and tourism development means to keep buildings, where possible, integrated within the natural environment.

The Tri Hatha Karana would state that buildings should not dominate the landscape and architectural design must promote and support the natural aesthetic of the area, whether that be beach, jungle, or rice terrace. 

While it has been written into legislation since 2009, there are a number of hotels and resorts that are taller than the 15m limit.

However, new buildings in Bali must not surpass the 15m height restriction unless given specific permission from the relevant authorities.

For many Bali lovers, this legislation is one of the few policies at manage to protect the island from tourism development that would completely visually devastate the natural landscape.

As Bali enters its New Era, according to Governor Koster and other political leaders, more emphasis must be put on preserving and promoting the Balinese cultural and natural landscapes. 

As tourism demand for Bali grows and as the government wants to see more international investment in the country, there will be more resorts, hotels, and tourism developments being constructed around the island for many years to come.

While many people see this as a positive thing, an increasing number of Bali lovers are making their voices heard with their concerns about the impact such developments will have on the natural and cultural landscape of the island. 

Last week, in the emerging tourist destination of Seseh, close to Canggu, the community came together to petition against a huge resort development that was set to be built on the beachfront.

The petition garnered huge online support and plenty of attention on social media, which quickly resulted in the international investment group issuing statements suggesting that the project has been put on hold for the foreseeable future.