Bali Kicks Back Over Plans To Build New Beach Club In Tourist Hotspot

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Sanur, a coastal beach resort on Bali’s south coast, has long been one of the island’s most famous destinations.

Much loved by regular and returning Bali lovers, expat families, and international retirees, Sanur is now almost unrecognizable compared to what many remember the resort to be in the recent past. 

Sanur will soon officially become a hub for medical tourism. With the opening of the new state-of-the-art Bali International Hospital set for the end of the year, heaps of new and supporting infrastructures and amenities have been developed in the new Sanur Special Economic Zone.

This has included huge renovations to the Grand Bali Inna Hotel, now known as Bali Beach Hotel and the development of the ICON Bali Mall. 

The ICON Bali Mall is set to be one of the biggest shopping and entertainment outlets in all of Bali. Celebrating its soft launch last month, work is still underway at the shopping center, but much of the ground floor area is open to the public.

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The initial plans for the ICON Bali Mall include the development of one but two beach clubs. However, as the ideas start to become a reality, many in the local community of Sanur and those who return year after year to enjoy a vacation along the calm blue shores are pushing back against all this development.

A huge part of the allure of Sanur is that although it is reasonably developed in the sense that there are dozens of big resorts in the area, the beach itself and the surrounding village have never felt as built up as other destinations like Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak.

Sanur isn’t home to big nightclubs and entertainment venues, and existing beach clubs all have a very relaxed or family-friendly feel. Communities and Sanur-bound holidaymakers are concerned that the development of beach clubs will totally change the laid-back and quiet energy of the area. 

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Responding to comments and criticisms of the beach club project posted online, the Chairman of Bali Tourism Board (BTB), Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, shared his insights on the matter.

He says that any and all developments in Sanur must be established in such a way that maintains the atmosphere that the resort has become so famous for. 

Adnyana said “From the beginning Sanur has been proven to be able to attract tourists who are looking for tranquility. Even during the pandemic, we can still exist. Sanur has a segmentation that has been created for decades and it has never changed.”

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He noted directly that the opening of the ICON Bali Mall has changed the atmosphere around Sanur, which has been able to maintain its relaxed beach vacation destination vibe for well over 30 years. 

Adnyana added, “[the investors] must understand what the Sanur crowd is like. Maybe they have data, but as far as I know, this change has not had much effect on local people. If you bring a different crowd, this can change the map and have the opportunity to kill other businesses in Sanur.”

He continued, “The demographic of tourists in Sanur is those who want to reminisce and seek tranquility. The presence of new malls and Beach Clubs can attract young tourists who only come for FOMO and then leave. This needs to be considered seriously.”

Adnyana noted that more work needs to be completed to ensure that the presence of the ICON Bali Mall and other new facilities in Sanur does not have a negative impact on tourists and the local community.

He explained, “If they are smart in branding, they have to manage the traffic well so there are no traffic jams. It is important to adjust to the existing character of Sanur…How to manage traffic needs to be set again. Otherwise, congestion can have a very real negative impact.”

When asked about the beach club developments, he shared his view that a beach lounge may be more appropriate than a beach club. For many, the idea of a beach club similar to the size of Atlas Beach Club in Canggu would totally change the vibe of Sanur forever. 

Adnyana said, “Maybe the shape should be smaller and quieter, like a more high-end lounge. We can see examples that remain positive and not too frenetic but still offer an experience that is in accordance with today’s era.”

The ICON Bali Mall website has previously listed two beach clubs that would be built as part of the Beach Promenade area. However, this description has recently been removed from the webpage.