As reported by Detiktravel.com, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto says he supports plans to build a second international airport in the Island’s north to relieve the “overtourism” and crowding of the leading tourism sites in Bali’s southern regions. In comments made during a visit to Bali on Sunday, 02 November 2024, the President said he desires to see Bali become the “new” Singapore or Hong Kong.
During a meeting at the Bendega Restaurant in Denpasar, President Prabowo said, “I already declared my commitment to building the North Bali International Airport.” The President said his plan will support tourism in North Bali so that Bali can become “The New Singapore” or “The New Hong Kong.”
At this time, Bali is served by a single international airport – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, located in Kuta, South Bali.
Among the challenges confronting any new airport in North Bali is the 3 to 6-hour travel time from the southern to the northern part of the Island. Bali does not have a quality transportation system, meaning that residents and visitors must use private or charter vehicles to travel around or across the Island.
In response, Mahawan Karuniasa, a lecturer at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of Indonesia, who also sits as a member of the Indonesian Sustainable Tourism Council, stated that Bali needs well-built infrastructure and transportation connectivity on a level not unlike Singapore and Hong Kong. The interconnectivity is needed in Bali to support economic and social mobility. However, Professor Mahawan thinks using the terms to describe Bali’s future vision, which resembles Singapore and Hong Kong, is highly inappropriate.
“The idea of Bali becoming the new Hong Kong and new Singapore should be abandoned. I believe it is more appropriate to say that Bali must create a modern tourism infrastructure or some other term,” said Mahawan in an interview with detikTravel.com on Wednesday, 06 November 2024.
“Building Bali’s infrastructure as a tourism destination is linked to carrying capacity and ecology, sociology, and culture of the Balinese people. Development in Bali cannot imitate Hong Kong and Singapore. In terms of the area alone, it is different; Bali is eight times the size of Singapore,” said Mahajan.
Mahawan Karuniasa, stated that Bali needs well-built infrastructure and connectivity like Singapore and Hong Kong. This interconnectivity is necessary to support economic and social mobility. However, he considered using the terms “new” Singapore and “new” Hong Kong to be inappropriate.
“Bali becoming the new Hong Kong and new Singapore should be left behind. I think it is enough and that we say that Bali will build tourist destination infrastructure, modern infrastructure, or use some other alternate term,” said Mahawan in a conversation with detikTravel on Wednesday, 06 November 2024.
“Building Bali’s infrastructure as a tourist destination is related to the Island’s carrying capacity and ecology, sociology, and the local culture. Development there cannot imitate Hong Kong and Singapore. In terms of the area alone, it is different; Bali is eight times the size of Singapore,” said Mahawan.
“Every location in Bali is already connected by land accessibility; there are roads around and other roads that intersect the Island. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful when planning to develop infrastructure,” said Mahawan.
A North Bali Airport Will Not Benefit Bali
Mahawan contends that ‘cutting off access’ to tourist attractions could occur if the government plans to build an airport in North Bali. If there are two airports, in Kuta and Buleleng, tourist attractions between the two areas have the potential to be deserted and abandoned by visitors.
In addition, the construction of the North Bali Airport is not considered a perfect solution by Mahawan in any effort to reduce the density of main tourist destinations in the South – such as Kuta, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Canggu, Nusa Dua, and Sanur.
“If an airport is built in North Bali, will this reduce the accumulation of tourists in South Bali? I don’t think so because I’m sure if an airport is built in the north, then a density of tourists will also occur in the north. What happens if there is a buildup of tourists in North and South Bali?” asked Mahawan.
“The presence of an airport in the north will not reduce the density in the South. Currently, South Bali is congested; if there is an airport in the north, it could be that North Bali will also become congested. Another impact following the construction of an airport in North Bali is that tourists will not cross the tourist areas between North and South Bali; those destinations could eventually disappear,” he added.
Mahawan is also worried about another negative impact. If the airport in North Bali is built, then Bali as a whole will become more crowded. Natural tourism, starting from forests and rice fields, will all easily transform into concrete buildings in the form of resorts or shopping malls, restaurants, and cafes.
Mahawan also mentioned the negative impact of poor spatial planning. He alluded to the development around I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in South Bali. Mahawan said Bali must maintain and preserve its unique differences in character that distinguish it from other tourist destinations in the world.
“The problem is one of carrying capacity. With the construction of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, the land currently connected to the airport is extraordinary, reaching the Ubud area. The built-up area is getting wider. Buleleng is already an urban area; if an airport is constructed there, the development of built-up land areas there will be even more,” he said.
“Spatial planning in Bali must be different; it must ensure that destinations with natural attractions should not be threatened or eliminated. Don’t let rice fields, forests, and rivers disappear and be transformed into resorts, abandoning the Island’s links to natural tourism,” he emphasized.
Related Links
President Prabowo: Bali the ‘New Singapore’
Megawati Says ‘No’ to North Bali Airport
Plans for New Airport in NW Bali Opposed
North Bali Airport in a Holding Pattern
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