UBUD
The Bali Times

GIANYAR’S administration has put the brakes on hotel and villa development in the regency’s prime tourism areas, including the artists’ retreat of Ubud.

While the new restriction on land use was reported to be an effort to redress the region’s imbalance between development and carrying capacity, the regent said it was in response to high numbers of illegally operating hotels and villas.

Cok Oka Sukawati said monitoring had shown that of 200 commercially operated villas in Gianyar, nearly 60 percent did not have permits.

“No, they do not want to take care of licensing, which creates problems in administrative procedures,” he said. “They really must have permits.”

There are 10 star-rated hotels or resorts in Gianyar.