The 182-meter-long transparent sky lift that is currently being built at Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida. This project has sparked a firestorm of debate between residents, visitors and conservationists. Just 45 minutes by boat from Bali, Kelingking Beach is famous for its dramatic cliffs and sweeping overlooks. This picturesque white sand beach was previously voted the world’s most beautiful beach. With the addition of a contemporary bridge with a striking design, local advocates are worried about its impact on the region’s natural landscape.
The lift is expected to decrease the average time to access the beach by more than half. Currently, getting to the beach requires an arduous and dangerous hike that takes hours. Most tourists are put off by the challenging 30-minute hike to the beach’s secluded sands. So far, the project has met a firestorm of criticism over its negative environmental effects and its visual texture across the landscape.
Environmental Concerns
Environmentalists are concerned that the glass elevator will cut off migration routes. Local businesses worry about its potential impact on their local ecosystem. Krisna Dinata, an activist from the environmental NGO Walhi Bali, said local people had a very hard time trusting the project’s ecological baseline studies.
“They can claim they’ve done technical assessments and environmental studies all they want, but if those reports are done properly and objectively, I don’t see how they could realistically show credible disaster or ecological mitigation plans.”
Environmentalists say sinking the lift’s supports into the cliff face would threaten to destabilize the region and affect local wildlife. Supartha Spottiswoode, an expert on spatial planning who helped facilitate the retreat, pointed out the failures in the existing planning process.
“According to spatial planning concepts, that’s not really the right place for a glass lift,” – I Made Supartha
He stressed the importance of comprehensive studies from the provincial and central governments. These studies should have been done before proceeding with the project.
Aesthetic and Cultural Implications
Local leaders have protested, warning that this development will change Kelingking Beach’s natural beauty. Niluh Djelantik, an independent national senator from Bali, called the glass lift “an insult” and a “danger” to the beach’s lure. She stated:
“The beauty is being taken away … there’s nowhere else in the world like here. The local authorities need to ask themselves, ‘What are we doing to our mother?’” – Niluh Djelantik
Djelantik further characterized the building of these hotels as driven by greed, rather than a sincere commitment to improve the tourist experience.
“Love is supposed to make you happy, not kill you,” – Niluh Djelantik
She thinks the new buildings should not detract from what’s important about Balinese culture and traditions.
I Made Supartha powerfully articulated these feelings. He claimed that Bali’s tourism laws prioritize the protection of natural beauty and cultural heritage over commercial interests.
“According to Bali’s tourism regulations, what defines a tourist destination here isn’t modern structures, it’s Balinese culture, traditions, and the natural beauty.” – I Made Supartha
Regulatory Actions
Responding to these rising concerns, Bali’s Regional Spatial Planning, Assets and Licensing committee intervened. So, they have stopped the construction of the lift. This stipulation was added after public comment indicated the short-cutting of an appropriate permit process and increasing environmental and aesthetic concerns from stakeholders.
The committee recently enacted a moratorium on new developments in agricultural land. This decision acts as the island’s increasing temporizing measure to protect its natural environment as more and more people come to visit. Bali is set to welcome more than 6.3 million foreign tourists this year, likely setting a new record high.
Kadek Yartini, a local business owner, expressed cautious optimism:
“Right now, we don’t really have many customers. Once it’s done, we might get more visitors.” – Kadek Yartini
Opponents say putting short-term profit ahead of care for the environment would threaten Bali’s fragile topography.
