Bali is on a mission to make Kuta Beach both comfortable and ‘classy’ for tourists.
The classic coastal vacation destination has been undergoing a steady stream of redevelopment since the pandemic, and leaders have just confirmed that more renovations will take place to improve the tourist experience.
One of the biggest complaints tourists have about Bali’s top tourist destinations is the lack of walkability. According to some metrics, Indonesian people walk the fewest steps daily of any country on earth.
In Bali, sidewalks are often in disrepair, with tourists in the past having broken ankles and legs trying to navigate down the way safely…seriously! In Kuta, all that is about to change.
Over the last few years, huge efforts have taken place to improve pedestrian access, including widening the pavements in busy areas. This month, more work is taking place to improve walkability in the popular holiday hotspot.
The Regent of Badung, Wayan Adi Arnawa, and Badung Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) Speaker I Gusti Anom Gumanti have inspected the construction work on the pedestrian access sidewalks along Kuta Beach. The inspection was conducted to ensure the work was proceeding according to plan as part of efforts to improve the quality of Bali’s leading tourist area.
During the first phase of this project, the Badung Regency Government will focus on pedestrian development on the east side of Jalan Pantai Kuta. The pedestrian path will be approximately 3.5 meters wide and will feature landscaping to create a more comfortable, safe, and ‘beautifying’ public space for the tourist area.
Speaking to reporters, Regent Arnawa said that the pedestrian access improvement work is part of the Badung Regency Government’s grand strategy to improve the quality of tourism infrastructure while providing a friendly public space for both the local community and tourists.
He shared, “Kuta Beach is a Balinese tourism icon whose quality we must continue to maintain. This pedestrian development isn’t just about building sidewalks; it’s about creating a more organized, comfortable, safe, and classy tourist area, providing the best possible experience for both residents and tourists visiting Badung.”
Once this first phase is complete, the development will continue to the Padma area on the Kuta-Legian border. This will ensure the entire stretch of Kuta Beach is connected by an accessible and comfortable pedestrian path. Regent Arnawa told reporters that he wants to see this long-term upgrade of Kuta Beach supported by everyone who lives, works, and travels through the area.
He noted, “We invite the entire community and businesses to support this program. Any buildings or land use located along the coastal boundary that do not comply with regulations will be regulated. The goal is not simply to regulate the area, but to create a more orderly, beautiful Kuta Beach area that benefits all parties.”
One of the biggest issues facing Kuta Beach is coastal erosion. With that in mind, the Badung Regency Government is also focusing on coastal erosion mitigation through breakwater construction, work on which has already been underway for over a year.
Once the coastal protection work is complete, the government will continue with sand replenishment to fully restore Kuta Beach to its former glory.
Regent Arnawa shared, “The development of the Kuta Beach area is also part of our commitment to strengthening Bali’s tourism competitiveness through infrastructure development focused on tourist comfort, improving the quality of public spaces, and ensuring the sustainability of the coastal environment.”
He concluded by sharing his vision for the future of Kuta Beach, both for the local community and for the 7 million international tourists who visit Bali every year.
Regent Arnawa shared, “With the region’s increasingly organized, integrated landscape and adequate infrastructure, we hope Kuta Beach will maintain its position as one of Indonesia’s leading tourist destinations, capable of competing internationally while also positively impacting regional economic growth and community well-being.”
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