BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — Bali Governor Wayan Koster said around 5,000 villa businesses in Bali have applied for operating permits since 2025, following a policy requiring online travel agent (OTA) platforms to stop marketing unlicensed tourist accommodation.

Koster made the statement during a plenary meeting of the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali) on Monday, September 21, 2026.

“Throughout 2025–2026, 5,000 villa business units have applied for permits,” Koster said.

According to Koster, the policy has also affected tourists’ accommodation choices. Since OTA platforms no longer market properties without the required permits, travelers making bookings through these platforms are now directed toward legally licensed accommodation.

“Because OTAs no longer market unlicensed properties, tourists who make bookings through these travel agents no longer stay in unlicensed accommodation,” Koster said.

He added that the policy had contributed to higher occupancy rates at licensed hotels in Bali. Koster said hotel occupancy had reached around 80 to 90 percent on a daily basis.

In addition to higher occupancy, Koster said hotel and restaurant revenues had also increased. He added that the increase in business activity had contributed to government revenue.

Earlier, Koster met with representatives of several OTA platforms to discuss the management of Bali’s tourism sector, with a focus on quality, compliance, and sustainability. The meeting was held at Jayasabha, the Bali governor’s official residence, on Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the meeting, Koster outlined two key points for OTA operators.

First, OTA platforms were asked to list and market only legal tourism businesses that comply with government regulations. The policy is intended to ensure that accommodation offered to tourists meets the necessary licensing requirements.

Second, OTA platforms were encouraged to assist the government in collecting the Bali Tourism Levy, a charge imposed on foreign tourists visiting the island.