Bali's Hotel Safety Certification Gap Is Wider Than Most Operators Realize
Roughly four out of every five hotels and tourism accommodations registered in Bali have not obtained the provincial government's Disaster Preparedness Certification, known locally as SKB. According to data from the Bali Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), just 117 properties hold the credential, representing approximately 20 percent of registered accommodation businesses across the island.
The figure was cited publicly by Ida Bagus Gede Widnyana Putra, Head of the Prevention and Preparedness Division at the BPBD, during a workshop on disaster safety recognition held at Harris Sunset Road Hotel and Convention Center on 26 August 2026. The event was organized by A-PAD Indonesia.
Why So Few Properties Are Certified
Widnyana Putra was clear that the low uptake is not primarily a technical problem. The certification process itself is free of charge, and the BPBD has stated that hotels can pursue it in stages, using assessments to identify which areas need attention before a full application. The real obstacle, he said, is that many accommodation managers simply do not treat disaster risk reduction as a priority. A culture of disaster awareness has not yet taken root across the industry.
The certification is technically mandatory under existing regional regulations and gubernatorial decrees, but the absence of meaningful sanctions for non-compliance has blunted enforcement. The BPBD is currently working to strengthen the regulatory framework and secure annual government funding for the program before intensifying outreach.
What Certification Actually Requires
SKB certification covers practical, physical standards. Properties must have clearly marked safety signage, properly located and appropriately elevated evacuation sites, and documented emergency scenarios suited to their specific risk profile. Hotels in tsunami-prone coastal zones, for instance, must demonstrate viable evacuation plans. Where horizontal evacuation to higher ground is not feasible due to proximity to the shore, vertical evacuation to a structure meeting safe-height standards is an accepted alternative.
Certification is valid for five years, though the BPBD conducts an annual review process for participating properties. Of the 117 certified accommodations, the largest concentration is in Badung Regency. All certified properties to date are star-rated hotels.
Market Signals Are Starting to Shift
Widnyana Putra noted that some travel agents, particularly those arranging international events, have begun asking hotels whether they hold the certificate. Properties that have completed the process can display a certificate issued by the Province of Bali, which he said gives agents greater confidence in recommending the property. This commercial dimension is still emerging, but it points to a direction the market is moving.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent operators who have not yet started the SKB process have a practical opening right now: the certification is free, the BPBD offers a staged assessment pathway, and the agency is actively conducting outreach through tourism associations. Pursuing certification before it becomes a harder requirement, or before competitors use it as a differentiator in agent negotiations, is a low-cost way to get ahead. Coastal properties in particular should treat the tsunami evacuation planning component not as a bureaucratic hurdle but as a genuine operational necessity. Starting with an initial BPBD assessment to identify gaps is the most manageable first step.
Details were first reported by NusaBali and covered by Bali Discovery.
First reported by balidiscovery.com.