Indonesia has announced that new hotels and restaurants will no longer be allowed to be built on cleared rice fields or agricultural land in Bali, following flash floods earlier this month that claimed at least 18 lives.
On 10 September, a state of emergency was declared on the island after the heaviest flooding in more than ten years swept through Denpasar and nearby districts, damaging homes, public facilities and infrastructure, and affecting thousands of residents.
Environmental groups have repeatedly warned that uncontrolled tourism growth and land conversion are contributing to Bali’s vulnerability to natural disasters. They argue that limiting construction on productive land is essential to reducing the risks of severe flooding and other hazards.
In response, Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster, confirmed that fresh regulations had been introduced. Speaking on 14 September, he explained that district heads and mayors across Bali had been instructed to stop granting permits for new hotels, restaurants and similar developments on agricultural plots, particularly rice paddies. He added that further discussions would follow once flood relief operations are completed.
Known for its green rice terraces and beaches, Bali has undergone rapid transformation over the last five decades, with large-scale tourism development fueling traffic congestion, pollution and complaints about unruly visitors. Indonesia previously floated a moratorium on hotel construction, but the proposal was never fully enforced. The new rules are expected to take effect by late 2025.
The decision comes amid warnings from Indonesia’s meteorology and climate agency of a potentially extreme rainy season and a worsening waste problem that has intensified flooding in several areas, including Bali. While floods are common during the wet months of September to March, experts caution that climate change is increasing the intensity of rainfall and flash floods. Overdevelopment and deforestation are also believed to be amplifying the damage caused by natural disasters.