Bali Disaster Agency Urges Hotels to Obtain Disaster Preparedness Certificate, Only 117 Properties Certified So Far

Bali's provincial disaster management agency (BPBD) is calling on tourism accommodation businesses to promptly obtain a Disaster Preparedness Certificate (Sertifikat Kesiapsiagaan Bencana, SKB). Speaking at a workshop in Denpasar, BPBD's head of prevention and preparedness, Ida Bagus Gede Widnyana Putra, said international travel agents often ask about such certification, calling it a valuable investment for accommodation businesses.

Bali is considered to face all 14 types of disaster risks found across Indonesia, and because tourism underpins the local economy, continuous disaster preparedness is considered essential. The provincial government began developing its own certification scheme several years ago, before national technical guidelines existed for the tourism sector.

Although certification is mandated by regional regulation and a governor's decree, enforcement lacks penalties, and many hotel managements have yet to prioritize disaster risk reduction. As of mid-2026, only 117 hotels and accommodations have been certified, mostly star-rated hotels in Badung Regency. BPBD said the government is deliberately avoiding forced rapid adoption, instead focusing first on strengthening governance, regulation, and budget mechanisms so that certification services can be offered free of charge to businesses.

Anton R. Purnama, program manager at the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster (A-PAD) Indonesia, added that building market recognition mechanisms is key so hotels that invest in preparedness gain real economic benefits, such as increased trust from tourists and digital booking platforms. He cited the recent earthquake response in West Manggarai as evidence that disaster preparedness translates into concrete life-saving action, not just a concept.