Hotels and Villas in the Guise of Private Homes

(2/22/2010)

The Bali Villa Association (BVA) is urging Bali's nine regencies and municipalities to urgently undertake an inventory of the private villas operating in their areas as commercial villas. The BVA's view that there are numerous private villas operating illegally on a commercial basis prompted the call and the accompanying call for a clearly set of rules governing such activities.

Chairman of the BVA, Ismoyo S. Soemarlan, estimates there are more than 1,000 commercial villas in Bali, 25% of which do not have the required permits and licenses. Ismoyo told the press that the illegal villas were built with only private residential building permits (IMB) and not in accordance with the more rigorous requirements for buildings intended to be operated commercially.

Quoted in Beritabali.com, Ismoyo said: "We have already urged the regional government to close these villas because they violate the existing rule. The IMBs (for these villas) have been issued for private residences, but they are being operated as (commercial) villas; this violates the law."

The BVA Chairman told the press that of the 9 regional governments in Bali only Badung has undertaken an inventory of villas operating in their regency.

Of the 1,000 commercial villas estimated to be operating in Bali, 700 are located in the Badung regency.