Bali Could Become Indonesia’s Monaco In Proposed Luxury Tourism Reform

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The mention of Monaco conjures up images of luxury yachts, exquisite fine dining, and relaxation in the opulence of the French Riviera.

Leaders in Bali want to see big changes in the way tourism operates across the province. Some feel that Monaco, as a city-state and micro-state, could serve as inspiration for Bali’s outlying island of Nusa Penida for the future of luxury, exclusive travel. 

In a press interview, Gede Pasek Suardika, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Nusantara Awakening Party (PKN) and former member of the Bali House of Representatives, shared his vision for Nusa Penida as a world-class tourism destination.

He feels strongly that the future of Nusa Penida must be planned strategically to be developed as a luxury tourism destination with economic and environmental sustainability at the core. 

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Suardika called on leaders to prepare what he calls the ‘social foundations’ to allow more investment to enter the province and Nusa Penida, specifically, to allow for the much-needed infrastructural improvements to help the island become a high-end destination.

He wants to see the Nusa Penida compete with, if not better, Bali’s existing luxury destination, Nusa Dua. 

He told reporters, “In my image, the Nusa Penida area should be above Nusa Dua. Because there is no location in Bali that can be raised to the level to attract wealthy tourists to vacation peacefully and comfortably.”

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Suardika was clear that Nusa Penida has the potential to become the Mocano of Indonesia and maintain its cultural identity, an issue that must be explored across the province.

Many leads, community members, and returning Bali tourists are concerned that the island is starting to lose strength in its cultural identity as more and more tourism development spreads across the region. 

Suardika said, “Nusa Penida with Nusa Lembongan must be upgraded to be top-class in the world. Build infrastructure to reach that level, as well as prepare the local community to enter that level. So that immediate welfare will increase rapidly.”

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While some may feel that Suardika’s ambition and vision to establish Nusa Penida as the Monaco of Bali, many will be concerned that the influence of mass tourism is already too widely established on the island. At least not because of ongoing construction work for the Nusa Penida Glass Elevator. 

Leaders backing the Nusa Penida Glass Elevator Project have been quick to note that the development will help attract more tourists to the island.

Nusa Penida is already one of the most popular attractions in the province. With thousands of visitors making the crossing from Sanur, Padangbai, or Serangan every day, Nusa Penida is getting busier by the week. 

However, many feel that the overall mission to attract more tourists to Nusa Penida, to prioritize growth by any means, and to invest in developments that hugely affect the natural landscape is a recipe for disaster in the long term.

The Nusa Penida Glass Elevator is believed to have the potential to attract tens of thousands more tourists to the site, which would put more pressure on resources across the island, from hotels to restaurants, utility infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads, internet, and boat services. 

This huge surge in demand for travel experiences on Nusa Penida has been viewed by many as a positive development for the community and the economy, though others have been urging Nusa Penida to pause, reflect, and assess which direction is sustainable in the long term.

The increasing number of visitors on the island is also putting pressure on the island’s infrastructure, which was originally designed and implemented to support the island’s resident community. 

Whether Nusa Penida undergoes a rebrand to become the Monaco of Indonesia remains to be seen. Bali Province has already proven that it has the capacity to offer world-class luxury tourism opportunities, as is seen in Nusa Dua and in other pockets around the island.

However, as more and more commitments to mass tourism development are made, the harder it will be to implement exclusivity, quality and luxury in the long run.