Bingin Beach Demolition: Why Did It Happen?

In a dramatic development that has drawn heartache, Bali’s provincial government has begun the Bingin Beach demolition, tearing down dozens of cliff‑side businesses at Uluwatu’s Bingin Beach. 

The unfolding Bingin Beach demolition controversy highlights tensions between enforcing spatial planning laws (RTRW), maintaining environmental regulations in Bali, and protecting a vibrant coastal culture.

As a tourist, whether local or international, you may be wondering: what exactly is happening, and how could this affect the future of Bingin?

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The Government’s Rationale: Upholding the Law

According to official statements, the action led by Bali’s Governor I Wayan Koster is rooted in necessity and legality. 

Provincial authorities, supported by Satpol PP Badung, confirmed that nearly 48 structures—including villas, restaurants, warungs, and stairways—were built on state land without proper permits, violating national and regional rules: 

• PP No. 8 of 1953 and PP No. 18 of 2021 on State Land Control

• Law No. 26 of 2007 on Spatial Planning

• Law No. 27 of 2007 on Coastal and Small Islands Management

• Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management

• Presidential Regulation No. 51 of 2016 on Coastal Boundaries

• Bali Provincial Regulations No. 2 and 4 of 2023

Governor Koster emphasized that the communities must adhere to zoning and coastal protection rules, warning that without enforcement, Bali’s natural beauty and spatial integrity were at risk: “If we let this go on, Bali will be damaged.”

The Business Owners’ and Community’s Perspective

The enforcement of the Bingin Beach demolition triggered intense emotional scenes. 

Over forty businesses that had stood for decades—some families‑run since the 1970s—were dismantled almost overnight. 

Staff watched in tears as their workplaces were destroyed; guests’ bookings were cancelled, sometimes without warning. 

Local workers faced a dramatic livelihood shift. Employees like Putu Setya, who had worked at a Bingin villa, described how workers turned to selling snacks, drinks, and renting umbrellas on the beach just to survive. 

“We live by selling drinks on the beach, transporting goods, selling drinks for us to eat,” and profits were shared daily among the ten staff members, said Putu Setya to Kumparan.

credit: Photo by Chairul Amri Simabur/detikBali

Community leaders, including DPD RI member Ni Luh Djelantik, acknowledged the necessity of rule‑enforcement but criticised the timing. 

Via detik.com, she questioned: “If that building were demolished today, where have you (goverment) been for three years ago?”, .

Locals argued that the Bingin Beach land dispute is more complex than legality alone—they had operated under customary community norms, informal adat permission, and had paid taxes for years.

Bali’s Development Dilemma

This event reflects a larger tension in Bali’s development model. Bali is projected to host over 6.3 million international visitors in 2025. 

Similar crackdowns have been proposed at nine other coastal sites across the island, as part of a broader effort to regularize “illegal” tourism structures and reinforce spatial planning laws (RTRW) in line with the 100‑Year Development Vision for Bali.

Badung’s Regent Adi Arnawa explained that the aim is to promote tourism that is not just high‑volume but high‑quality—environmentally sustainable, culturally respectful, and well‑regulated. 

He said the focus is shifting from rapid expansion to long‑term preservation of coastal areas like Bingin.

Critics, however, question whether the crackdown is selective. 

Reports from surfers and international media, including Surfer and Guardian, warn that the demolitions may pave the way for luxury developments or beach clubs, threatening the authenticity and surfing heritage that made Bingin world‑famous.

The Aftermath and The Future of Bingin

credit: Instagram @travelinghawks

In the immediate aftermath, authorities—including Dinas Perindustrian dan Tenaga Kerja Badung—began registering displaced workers and offering support. 

A post contact has been set up at Desa Pecatu to collect data and provide assistance, ensuring affected employees have access to legal and financial guidance.

Legal proceedings are also underway. Owners, including Australians and locals, have hired lawyers to challenge the government in court. 

Some argue their businesses pre‑dated formal zoning, that they operated legally under customary norms, and deserve compensation or grandfathering.

Looking ahead, Bali’s leaders have laid out early plans for the site’s future. 

Once cleared, the authorities envision a more environmentally integrated coastal zone—possibly a protected green area, or carefully re-regulated tourist access paths that comply with environmental regulations in Bali and zoning laws. 

These plans aim to preserve the spirit of the place while ensuring legal clarity and sustainability.

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Source: Kumparan, detik.com, Surfer, The Guardian, ABC NEWS, Daily Telegraph.