Bali’s Villa Rental & Management Association has been working tirelessly to bring industry standards to the island’s booming private vacation rental sector.
With the increasing demand for private vacation rentals and rapid development of new properties, it is becoming increasingly evident that more accreditation and standardisation are needed.
The Bali Villa Rental & Management Association (BVRMA) has confirmed that it is receiving an increasing number of reports of villa fraud and scamming on the island, with more than 100 open cases.
The trend is hugely concerning for both tourists and industry leaders. Fraud ranges from reservation scams to fake social media accounts, to fake websites, and to dodgy agents using images of reputable villas in their scams.
This has led to financial losses and ultimately risks tarnishing the image of the accommodation sector on the island. With more than 7 million international tourists set to visit Bali in 2026, it is essential that prospective tourists feel that they can book with confidence.
The Chairman of BVRMA, Kadek Adnyana, told reporters his forecast for a worst-case scenario if serious action is not taken quickly. He shared, “Bali’s tourism image will definitely plummet. Because if something like this and that happens and it’s exposed on social media, it becomes public knowledge, it becomes global knowledge. Ultimately, Bali’s image will inevitably be tarnished as an unsafe tourist destination.”
He added, “The losses are already hundreds of millions of rupiah for tourists alone. A single booking can be worth anywhere from 10 million to hundreds of millions of rupiah. The villas on offer are quite luxurious and quite expensive.”
In an initial solution, BVRMA has taken concrete steps by introducing an official villa verification system accessible to the public via the official website.
Adnyana explained, “We’ve seen a rise in villa fraud, especially as the high season approaches. Through this verification system, travelers can easily confirm whether the villa or villa management is an official member of the BVRMA and has gone through the verification process.”
He revealed that BVRMA has also opened up collaborations with local governments, law enforcement officials, digital platforms, and Online Travel Agents (OTAs) to work collaboratively to crack down on fraudulent practices in the accommodation sector.
Adnyana explained,” We are ready to be a strategic partner with the government in creating a safe, healthy, and sustainable tourism ecosystem in Bali.”
The safest way for tourists to book private villas in Bali is directly with the property, or via a reputable online provider, after checking the property’s status on the BVRMA Official website. This process is quick and simple to complete, enabling tourists to book with confidence and supporting businesses that play an active role in the local economy.
The BVRMA website is a simple and straightforward site to use. Tourists must first request a verification code from their villa provider or travel agency. Then enter this code into the BVRMA checker.
BVRMA explains, “If the code is valid, the villa or company details will appear on the screen. Make sure the contact information and email match your booking details. If no details appear, please be cautious—you may be at risk. The company might not be verified as our member.”
Tourists traveling to Bali or anywhere in Indonesia are strongly advised to take out a fully comprehensive travel insurance policy before booking travel to the island.
Completing bookings this way around ensures that everything, from accommodation to flights to day trips and tours, is covered under the policy.
That said, tourists are encouraged to read their policy document in full before purchasing cover, as each policy offers different levels of cover, terms, and conditions.
It is very important that tourists understand how to make a claim before they travel to Bali, since, in the unlikely event they need to make one, it makes stressful moments much more manageable if the steps are clear.
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