It’s official, the Nusa Penida Glass Elevator Project has been scrapped.
Here at The Bali Sun, we have a breakdown of everything you need to know about this landmark decision and how it could affect tourists’ experience of Bali’s most iconic viewpoint in the coming months.
Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has officially demanded that the Nusa Penida Glass Elevator Project be stopped and demolished.
The contentious tourism attraction has been under construction for over a year, and this major U-turn on the development comes after the Bali Provincial Government found five violations that made proceeding with the project untenable.
The Glass Elevator Project was constructed on the cliffside of the world-famous Kelingking Beach, which has long been Nusa Penida’s most famous attraction.
The beach shot to global fame during the first wave of social media travel influencer content, when the stunning vista of the T-Rex cliffs at Kelingking Beach triggered wanderlust in all who saw it on their screens.
As confirmed during a press conference on Sunday 23rd November, Governor Koster shared that he is “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.”
The decision to scrap the project came after an investigation from Bali Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD)’s Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (TRAP).
Violations range from spatial planning to environmental harm to not aligning with regional cultural tourism guidelines.
Governor Koster explained further, “Based on the results of the study, this project violates licensing regulations, marine conservation areas, and is contrary to Bali’s cultural tourism. Therefore, I have decided to halt all construction activities.”
The 182m Glass Elevator Project received more than IDR 200 billion in investment and is already over a year into the construction process. The PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group has been given 6 months to remove all traces of the project to date from the cliffside at Kelingking Beach.
The timeline is clear. All elements of the project that have been constructed without proper permits and licences must be removed within 6 months, and the whole site must be ‘restored to function’ within 3 months.
Any failure by PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group to complete this demolition work will result in the Bali Provincial Government taking over the site and putting the remaining demolition work up for auction.
Governor Koster shared, “It doesn’t necessarily require a budget. It could be auctioned off, so it doesn’t cost any money.”
This timeline is already raising eyebrows amongst the Bali community, especially since the demolition work at the beloved Bingin Beach in Uluwatu, which is also being overseen by provincial government agencies, has not been completed as promised.
Nevertheless, Governor Koster is clear that while sustainable tourism development is welcome in Bali, respect for the region’s natural landscape, culture, and communities must be front and centre in all future developments.
He noted, “If everything is made easy, every tourist attraction has an elevator, and even the longest climb to Mount Agung has an elevator, where will Bali’s authenticity be?”
Governor Koster shared that he would investigate those who facilitated the issuance of the initial permit for the project.
He reiterated that the Bali Provincial Government and the Klungkung Regency Government are committed to ensuring that the Glass Elevator Project becomes an example of the authorities taking swift and strict action when violations are found.
For tourists traveling to Nusa Penida and specifically Kelingking Beach, the site is open and operational as usual. However, it remains the case that hiking down to the beach is only recorded when tourists are fit and fully prepared. It is never safe to swim at Kelingking Beach.
In the coming months, as demolition work begins on the Glass Elevator project site, construction noise may disturb peaceful panorama viewing, though no officials have suggested that the landmark will be closed to facilitate demolition work.
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