Officials say the restaurants, villas and other tourist facilities are in violation of building and planning regulations at Bingin Beach, a favourite spot for Aussie visitors and surfers alike.
Demolition work began on Monday morning, with footage on social media showing officers breaking through doors and tearing down structures with sledgehammers.
The crackdown, led by Bali’s civil police unit (Satpol PP), follows months of warnings and notices issued to business owners along the popular surf destination.
According to officials, 45 establishments were found to be operating in breach of spatial planning laws, environmental regulations, and in some cases, encroaching on state-owned land.
“It is true that we have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating buildings at Bingin Beach,” said I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, Head of the Badung PP Police.
“We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners… stating that the demolition will begin on July 21 and continue until it is completed.”
Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater has expressed his shock and disappointment at the demolition work.
“Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local eateries and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?” he wrote on social media.
“Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years.
“I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.”
The crackdown arrives during Bali’s peak tourist season, prompting warnings that access to Bingin Beach may be disrupted for Australian travellers and other international visitors in the coming weeks.
