Badung is Bali's most tourist-dense regency covering Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Uluwatu and Mengwi.

Figures released by the Bali Government Tourist Office show Badung leads the island in terms of visitors to 5-star accommodations, restaurants, entertainment spots and tourist attractions.

It also has Bali's largest concentration of villas registered on Airbnb, more than 18,500 of them, according to Airdna, from a registered Airbnb pool of 28,672.

No wonder Badung is considered to be Bali's richest Regency. And as such it's supposed to be contributing the largest amount of taxes to the island's coffers, but tax revenues are falling short, especially hotel and restaurant taxes, which many believe is because of illegal business operations including short-term holiday villa rentals.

Gapura Bali reported on April 11, 2018 that Badung authorities were intensifying the search for unlicensed accommodations operating as businesses in the regency, warning "now more than ever it is critically important to make sure your villa has the correct paperwork and your paying local taxes if you want to operate a villa rental business in Bali."

According to Bali Post, Igak Suryanegara, Head of Satpol PP of Badung, a unit of Badung's police force, has called on the Regional Apparatus Organization (OPD) to disclose and share with his team all relevant information so he can begin to take firm measures against those businesses still operating illegally and without proper licenses.

The report confirmed he intends to crack down and enforce the law and those operations that continue to be in breach even after receiving warnings will be sealed.

Sources: Bali Post, Bali Government Tourism Office, Gapura Bali

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