What's Left Of Bingin Beach Bali

BADUNG - The sound of the waves seemed to greet visitors who arrived at Bingin Beach, in Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, in Badung Regency, Bali.

Unlike usual, the atmosphere of Bingin Beach is now quiet from activities.

This occurred after the demolition of dozens of tourism business buildings carried out by the Bali Provincial Government (Pemprov) and the Badung Regency Government (Pemkab), on Monday (21/7).

Now only a few tourists can be seen sunbathing, swimming and surfing on Bingin Beach.

The rubble of a tourism business building that used to stand on a coastal and hilly sedan in the Bingin Beach area is an unfavorable sight for visiting tourists.

Some tourists seem to take advantage of the rest of the building to take shelter and the lack of visitors is used by a number of tourists to relax calmly.

Johan is one of the employees who rent out surfboards for tourists at Bingin Beach agrees that conditions are different at this time. Quiet on Bingin Beach.

"This place is good for surfing and far from crowds. This place, a small but beautiful beach and happy they are refreshing and swimming here, a lot of trees and sand are still good. The garbage here is always cleaned and finally there is no garbage (scattered)," said Johan.

Residents take advantage of renting a tent umbrella for tourists who arrive. Johan was also a surfin instructor.

"In the past, I had a maximum of about five or five people (to teach playing surfing). But now, sometimes there is only one person and like yesterday it was empty. Anyway (for income) it is very far away," he said.

"I work here, I am staff, in the past I could get up to one day I could get Rp600 thousand, now it's only Rp100 thousand. (If this place) I have only staff here," he explained.

The same thing was conveyed by Agus Sumertayasa or Agus Dag.. Tourists have started arriving since this week.

"It's only started to exist. It's been a week since there were no foreigners to the beach, because above the access it's already damaged the stairs, and they're back again. But now there are some," he said.

According to him, initially tourists were reluctant to visit Bingin Beach because of the demolition of the building. But slowly they returned.

"There is a bulldozer who is afraid of being hit by the rubble. A guest is afraid but I said it is still safe, can surf and go down to the beach because there is safe access that can still be passed," he said.

Previously, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster together with Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa directly led the demolition of dozens of illegal buildings located on Bingin Beach, Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali, on Monday (21/7).

The demolition involved Satpol PP officers, the police, and the TNI.

The buildings that were demolished consisted of villas, homestays, restaurants, and other tourist facilities suspected of violating a number of laws and regulations.

"There are 48 buildings, all illegal villas are illegal, people do not use permits. (Are there villas belonging to Caucasians) still being traced. There are 48 illegal buildings here," said Koster on the sidelines of the demolition.

Koster revealed that the demolition was carried out because the building was standing on the land of the Badung Regency Government without a permit.

"This land is owned by the Badung Regional Government registered in the assets of the Badung Regional Government. So this building is a building not above individual property rights. It is a violation," he explained.

In addition, continued Koster, buildings at Bingin Beach also violate the regional regulations (perda) of Bali Province and the Badung Regency government regarding spatial planning.

"This is a green area and no one's building is licensed," he added.