Tourists Are Scared Bali’s New Beach Elevator Will Cause Huge Environmental Damage 

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Earlier this month, developers revealed that they will be building a 182m glass elevator and viewing platforms on the cliffs above Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida.

The ambitious project will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world. The project has not been well received by everyone.

Many people are highly concerned about the environmental impact of this huge amount of construction.

The project is incredible in the truest sense of the word…impossible to believe. Kelingking Beach is the most famous beach and coastal viewpoint in the province of Bali, if not the whole country.

The beach attracts hundreds of thousands of visits every year, and the landscape has become synonymous with travel to Bali as sipping coconuts, exploring the Camphuan Ridgewalk, or visiting the ‘Gateway to Heaven’ Temple.

The huge construction project is already underway. The news of the new partnership between the Karang Dawa Traditional Banjar in Bunga Mekar Village and Chinese investment company PT Bina Nusa Properti (PT BNP). 

@jack.loynton Kelingking beach, Nusa Penida 📍 #travel #backpacking #bali #fyp ♬ wait m83 – ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Access to Kelingking Beach is dangerous. The hike from the clifftop to the beach takes about an hour down a steep, uneven, winding cliff path. The trial has been the site of dozens of major accidents, many of which have resulted in local Search and Rescue teams being called to evacuate injured tourists. 

The new glass elevator project will enable tourists to take a safer journey down the beach. The beach, where the public is not permitted to swim at due to the dangerous waves and currents, which have caused injury and even deaths in the past.

The elevator will be accompanied by viewing platforms so that tourists can stop and admire the view from every angle. 

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@horsegirltravel Make sure you save this post for a bucket list destination 👇🏼 📍Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Indonesia 🇮🇩 #fyp #travelbali #traveltips #beautiful #travelbucketlist #explore #happy ♬ Me Gustas Tu – Manu Chao

While the construction contract requires the PT BNP to have a construction team that is comprised of at least 50% local labor, the economic benefits of the project appear to some to be outweighed by the potential negatives of the environmental damage the project may lead to in the long and short term. 

Many Bali lovers have raised their concerns about the environmental impact of the project.

So much so that Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, has spoken to the Head of the Bali Tourism Office about the scope of the project.

@kebalilagi.com Kelingking beach akan dibuatkan lift kaca setinggi 180 meter untuk bisa turun ke bawah. Gimana menurut kamu? Kelingking beach will be fitted with a glass elevator as high as 180 meters. What do you think?⁣ ⁣ We can't believe the local goverment still allow damaging construction and permanent change to the natural beauty of their land.⁣ This is terrible and will look horrible.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ The plan is that one of the best beaches in the world in 2023 (Travelers' Choice Awards version of TripAdvisor) will be fitted with a glass elevator as high as 180 meters.⁣ ⁣ The glass elevator construction project has even started, marked by the laying of the first stone which took place on Friday (7/7/2023).⁣ ⁣ The glass elevator project or popularly called Glass Viewing Platforms, is a collaborative project between Chinese investors, PT. BNP (Bina Nusa Properti), with the Karang Dawa Traditional Banjar, in Bungamekar Village.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Tulis opini kamu di bawah ya👇🏽⁣ ⁣ #balilivin #kelingkingbeach #nusapenida #kebalilagi #liburanbali #wonderfulindonesia #baliindonesia #travelbali ♬ suara asli – kebalilagi

Minster Uno spoke to the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, during a YouTube Live broadcast earlier this week.

Pemayun explained, “We have received the PBG (Building Agreement)…We hope that the Klungkung Regency Government will closely monitor the glass elevator construction process. Ensuring the stages of development are in accordance with applicable regulations.”

He added, “Regarding the construction of this glass elevator, we hope that the supervision will be even tighter so that it doesn’t have a bad impact on Bali’s image.”

Minster Uno, who was also in Bali this week speaking about how the future of tourism and tourism in Bali must be sustainable, reminded Pemayun that the balance between boosting foreign tourism and environmental impact must be paid close attention to.

Minster Uno said, “I entrust that aspects of environmental sustainability and CHSE aspects are maintained. Because we rely heavily on Bali for the 8.5 million foreign tourist visits.” The CHSE aspects are tourism regulations that focus on cleanliness, health, safety, and the environment.

The feedback about the glass elevator in Nusa Penida by Bali lovers online was immediate and intense. 

One reader shared, “So tragic this beautiful natural wonder has been approved to be destroyed. Tourists go there to experience mother nature, not modernization. So sad.”

Another wrote, “Nothing incredible about it or any other projects that are taking away the spirit of this sacred land and everything that was truly incredible about its Nature. Wonder for who all these hideous structures will be once there’s nothing astonishing left for tourists to admire, and they will go elsewhere…”

When the story broke, the news quickly went viral all over social media. Everyone was talking about the new glass elevator in Nusa Penida.

The overwhelming consensus from Bali lovers from all walks of life, locals, foreigners, tourists, and non-tourists, was of concern for the environment and the notion that the elevator would be an eyesore on the landscape.