TEGALLALANG, Bali — Authorities in Bali’s Gianyar regency have targeted unlicensed money changers in the popular tourist area of Tegallalang, placing illegal-operation notices on businesses and removing their displayed exchange-rate boards.

The enforcement operation took place on Monday, November 2, following complaints from residents about currency exchange businesses operating without the required permits.

Gianyar Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) head Putu Yudanegara said inspections found that several money changers had continued operating without proper authorization, despite previous efforts to inform business owners about licensing requirements.

Officers placed notices identifying the unlicensed businesses and removed boards displaying foreign exchange rates as an initial enforcement measure.

The operation involved a joint team from Satpol PP, the Gianyar Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency, the Tourism Office, local village authorities, police community officers, and traditional village security personnel.

Businesses Face Possible Closure

Yudanegara said authorities had previously given operators time to obtain the required business permits, but inspections continued to uncover violations.

According to ANTARA, officials inspected 16 currency exchange businesses in Tegallalang and found that only three held the necessary permits, leaving 13 classified as unlicensed.

However, detikBali reported different figures, citing 10 unlicensed operators among 13 businesses inspected. Both reports attributed their information to Yudanegara.

The discrepancy in the number of businesses inspected has not been independently resolved.

For operators found to be violating licensing requirements, authorities said the immediate measures were intended to encourage compliance rather than automatically shut down every business involved.

Yudanegara warned that businesses continuing to disregard licensing requirements could face stronger sanctions, including closure.

Local officials said inspections would continue as part of efforts to improve compliance and maintain a safer environment for tourists visiting Tegallalang.

What Tourists Should Know

Tegallalang, north of Ubud, is a popular destination for international visitors, particularly those exploring Bali’s rice terraces and surrounding attractions.

Currency exchange services are widely used by travelers, making the legitimacy of money-changing businesses an important consumer protection issue.

However, operating without the required permit does not automatically mean a business has defrauded customers. Authorities have not established that the businesses identified during this operation were involved in specific cases of tourist fraud.

Visitors exchanging foreign currency in Bali should use authorized operators, check the exchange rate and any fees before completing a transaction, and count the money received before leaving the counter.

The latest enforcement action highlights continuing efforts by Gianyar authorities to regulate money-changing businesses in one of Bali’s busiest tourism areas.