Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Bali, Dewa Made Indra, says as of this moment, there are just 32 hotels in Bali that have certifications for handling tsunamis.
But you would think despite not having certifications, more than 32 are actually ready in the event of a tsunami. You would think.
“Currently there are just 32 hotels certified. The certification is a formal document that the hotel has a good (level of) preparedness if used as an evacuation center,” Indra said during a forum on disaster management communication in Sanur on Monday.
So few hotels have met the ‘tsunami ready’ standard, likely because it’s a rigorous and time-consuming process for hotels to get trained and certified, and certifications apparently must be renewed annually.
In principle, all hotels located in tsunami prone areas, especially South Bali, should have earthquake-resistant structures able to handle temporary evacuations, whether or not they have the official piece of paper so they can market themselves as ‘ready’.
Indra says BPBD is working hand-in-hand with local traditional village communities (pakraman) to sign MoUs to spread awareness about being ‘tsunami prepared’, according to Tribun Bali.
UPDATE: Coconuts Bali has reached out to the Bali Hotels Association and ‘Tsunami Ready’ for a complete and updated list of certified hotels and is waiting for comment.
