Bali's governor has submitted draft legislation aimed at guaranteeing that all beaches on the Indonesian island remain open to the public, responding to growing concerns over commercial encroachment. I Wayan Koster presented the bill on beach and shoreline protection to the Bali Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) on 17 November.
The move comes amid fears that hotels and villa operators are restricting access to shorelines, interfering with religious ceremonies. Mr Koster said beaches are "highly important" for local communities as sites for Segara Kerthi and Pakelem ceremonies, as well as social spaces. He criticised some operators for blocking public entry and prohibiting residents from performing religious activities.
"It's as if those who build hotels or villas think they own the beach and the sea," the governor said. "They dictate what people can and cannot do, even though they only own land near the shore, not the beach or the ocean itself."
The proposed regulation is intended to "restore Bali's beaches to their original purpose" and prevent tourist operations from imposing illegal restrictions. Mr Koster said he hopes the DPRD will debate the bill swiftly, with a view to passing it before the end of 2025.
Under a 2016 presidential regulation, beaches—defined as land extending at least 100 metres inland from the highest tide line—are state-owned public spaces and cannot be privatised. Despite this, numerous luxury hotels in tourist areas have claimed adjoining beaches as private and ejected local people and tourists for alleged trespassing.
