Tourist Access To This Famous Bali Viewpoint Is About To Get Easier

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Jaitluwih Rice Terraces is one of Bali’s most important cultural landscapes and has quickly become one of the island’s leading tourist attractions.

As is the case with so many tourist attractions that are first and foremost designed for local use, parking at the terraces has become something of a nightmare, but all that is about to change. 

Speaking to reporters, the Regent of Tabanan, Komang Gede Sanjaya, confirmed that he is committed to solving the parking problem at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. He confirmed that the development of a new car parking facility is in the design phase and should be completed by the end of 2027, if not sooner. 

Plans show that a new parking lot would be developed near Pura Petali Temple in Jatiluwih Village. The planning budget is predicted to reach Rp 20 billion – Rp 30 billion. “We are committed to solving the parking problem according to what the community conveyed.”

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He noted that the increasing number of comments about the condition of the parking situation at Jatiluwih has prompted the project to be expedited. However, he is keen to ensure the development is not rushed as the landscape can be protected in the process. Regent Sanjaya explained, “The point is that we want the construction of this parking lot not to disturb the existing panorama.”

Regent Sanjaya confirmed that he and his teams are targeting the planning of the parking lot construction in 2026 – 2027. He revealed that he is hopeful that the project’s budget will be assigned from central or provincial government funding.

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If it is not possible from those avenues, he has committed that he and his teams will work together to solve the problem. He told reporters, “We are responsible. If there is no budget from the center, BKK funds may be used. We will also coordinate with the Governor of Bali. This is already urgent.”

Speaking separately, the Head of Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Tourism, I Ketut Purna, emphasized that the parking lot in the Pura Petali area is the last choice. “If you park in the Petali Temple area, tourists who have little time in Jatiluwih will be reluctant to visit because of the distance problem, which is quite far, up to one kilometer.”

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He revealed that he and his teams are seeking to source land that is closer to the rice terraces themselves so that tourists have less of a distance to travel between their transport and the entrance to the terraces.

Purna shared, “Now there are 2 parking spots that can accommodate around 70 vehicles. In the future, of course, we will think about parking so that the parking will be organized in Jatiluwih.”

The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are currently under threat by rapid development and even climate change. In late 2024, Purna told reporters of his hopes that tourism could be harnessed as a tool to help protect the landscape for future generations, and not be the cause of its decline. 

Purna explained, “What we are afraid of is that there will be buildings in the middle of the rice fields.” Adding “Therefore, we made the Jatiluwih Village Regulation (Perdes) so that our natural sustainability is maintained, so that it is not like our neighboring areas.”

He shared how there are support programs in place to help incentivize farmers within the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace landscape to continue planting heritage rice grains and to use fertiliser sustainably. One initiative that has proved impactful is providing incentives to farmers to tune 26% of their net income from selling entrance tickets to the subak area. Purna added, “Every six months, we also subsidize farmers’ fertilizer between IDR 400-600 million.”

Jatiluwih is receiving a lot of international attention and, in turn, an increasing number of international tourists. In late 2024, Jatiluwih was named among the best tourism villages in the world. 

Purna told reporters after the big win, “Astungkara, this is an amazing award. Thanks to the support of all the people, Jatiluwih Village received the award of one of the best villages in the world in 2024.”

He concluded,”This is not only because of us but also because of the people in Jatiluwih Village who are both committed and have put forward the Tri Hita Karana philosophy to receive this award.”