Controversial Bali Glass Elevator Project To Be Demolished In Tourist Hotspot

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We at the Bali Sun have learned that Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has officially called for the controversial Kelingking Glass Elevator Project to be demolished after major building violations were recorded in the last month.

The highly contentious 182m Glass Elevator Project has received billions of rupiah of investment, and construction has already caused irreversible changes to the world-famous cliffside. 

Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has given PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group six months to deconstruct and demolish all structures connected to the Kelingking Glass Elevator.

During a press conference held in Denpasar on Sunday 23rd November, Governor Koster explained  “[I am] ordering PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group to stop all construction activities of the Glass Viewing Platform, carry out the demolition independently within a maximum of six months, and carry out the restoration of the function of the space after the demolition within a maximum of three months.”

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During the press conference, Governor Koster was accompanied by Klungkung Regent I Made Satria and Chairman of the Special Committee for Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (TRAP) of the Bali DPRD, I Made Supartha. 

The team at TRAP had officially halted construction over in Nusa Penida after a series of violations were detected during the first week of November 2025.

Following an investigation, the decision was made to cancel the project and dismantle the building work to date.

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The investigation had to be carried out in layers, since different elements of the Glass Elevator Project fell within the jurisdiction of other government agencies and various levels of government. For example, the ticket counter for the attraction was to be located on land under the authority of the Klungkung Regency Government.

However, the flyover intended to connect the entrance to the glass elevator falls under the authority of the Bali Provincial Government and the Central Government. The glass elevator itself, the attraction’s restaurant, and the building’s foundations were all to be built with an area of 846 m2 and a height of 182m, all within the scope of the Bali Provincial Government. 

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With all this taken into consideration, the investigation found that five clear violations had taken place, which grants the Bali Provincial Government the authority to close the project down.

The first violation of Spatial Planning, as regulated in Bali Provincial Regulation Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Bali Provincial Regulation Number 16 of 2009 concerning the Bali RTRWP 2009-2029.

Governor Koster explained, “The foundations of the bridge and the Glass Viewing Platform are located in coastal and coastal areas, did not receive a Recommendation from the Governor of Bali, and did not obtain a Permit for the Utilization of Conformity of Marine Spatial Utilization Activities (KKPRL) from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.”

As stipulated in full detail by NusaBali, the second reason given for the cancellation of the project was environmental violations, as regulated in Government Regulation Number 5 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing.

The third is for licensing violations, as regulated in Government Regulation Number 5 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing. The fourth were violations of Marine Spatial Planning, as regulated by Law Number 27 of 2007 concerning Coastal Area Management, are outlined in Bali Governor Decree Number 1828 of 2017 concerning the Management and Zoning Plan for the Nusa Penida Marine Conservation Area in Bali Province.

The fifth and final violation found was culture-based tourism, as regulated by Bali Provincial Regulation Number 5 of 2020 concerning Standards for the Implementation of Balinese Cultural Tourism.

These details are essential as the Bali Provincial Government and PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group must now be held to account for restoring Kelingking Beach to its former glory.

Kelingking Beach is not only one of the most famous tourist attractions in Nusa Penida, or even in Bali, but it is also one of the most iconic viewpoints in the world. 

Since its inception, the Nusa Penida Glass Elevator Project has drawn widespread criticism from local communities, environmentalists, business owners, and Bali lovers around the world.

There will be more questions to come from this, at least not regarding how the project was allowed to progress so far without such major violations being detected by the authorities. Questions will now be asked as to whether the project has caused irreparable damage to one of the world’s most beloved coastal vistas.