PELAGA, Bali — Authorities in Bali’s Badung regency are reviewing the permits of Eco Park Pelaga Glamping Retreat after a landslide swept through the resort on November 1, leaving two guests missing and raising questions about the property’s licensing and safety.
The review has revealed a discrepancy between the activities listed in the resort’s original business registration and its current use as a glamping accommodation.
Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa said on Thursday, November 5, that the resort had a Business Identification Number (NIB) covering glamping activities. He also said the site was intended for semi-permanent structures.
However, the Badung Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP) said earlier records listed agritourism and restaurant activities rather than glamping.
Officials are now examining the documents to establish whether the resort’s current operations and buildings meet the necessary requirements.
Officials Examine Missing Permit Documents
DPMPTSP head Made Surya Dharma said the operator held two business registration numbers issued in 2018 under an older version of Indonesia’s Online Single Submission (OSS) licensing system.
According to Surya, the registrations had not been migrated to the newer risk-based OSS system, making it difficult for officials to verify supporting permits through the online records.
During the initial inspection, management was unable to present several documents, including building approvals, certificates of building fitness, spatial planning approvals and environmental permits.
Surya acknowledged that the operator was dealing with the aftermath of the disaster and said further checks would be necessary before authorities could determine whether any violations had occurred.
He stressed that holding an NIB does not automatically mean a business has met every requirement for its buildings and operations.
The agency plans to summon the resort operator to clarify the documents once the immediate emergency response allows.
No Zoning Violation Found in Initial Review
Despite the questions surrounding the paperwork, Adi Arnawa said the government’s preliminary assessment had not identified a land-use violation at the disaster site.
The area is designated for agricultural and plantation activities, where certain forms of agritourism are permitted. However, buildings associated with tourism businesses must still comply with applicable planning and construction requirements.
The regent also highlighted the property’s location in a valley near a river, warning that such terrain can be particularly vulnerable to landslides during heavy rainfall.
He called for stronger safety precautions at tourism businesses in northern Badung, where steep terrain and unpredictable landslide risks present challenges during the rainy season.
The Badung government has also pledged to review the safety of other tourist accommodations in areas exposed to natural hazards.
Questions Remain Over Resort Safety
The licensing review follows the November 1 landslide, which struck the glamping property in Petang district after hours of heavy rain. An accommodation unit was swept away, while other structures were damaged. Of the 23 guests at the resort, 21 were evacuated, but a German national and an Indonesian man remained missing.
As of Thursday, November 5, the fourth day of the search, rescue teams had yet to locate the two men. Crews searched through landslide debris, along the nearby river and in surrounding areas, with police tracking dogs also deployed during the operation.
According to search and rescue officials, only about half of the landslide debris had been cleared. Difficult access prevented excavators from reaching the site, forcing rescuers to remove thick mud manually. Teams planned to intensify the search on Friday, November 6.
Authorities have not determined that any licensing issue or negligence caused the disaster. The available reports also do not establish whether the resort’s outstanding documents were never issued or simply could not be produced during the initial inspection.
For now, the local government’s review remains ongoing, with questions about the property’s building approvals and disaster preparedness still awaiting answers.
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