5-11-2024 (DENPASAR) Indonesia’s newly-inaugurated president has unveiled ambitious plans to construct a second international airport in Bali, declaring his vision to transform the popular tourist destination into “the new Singapore” or “the new Hong Kong”.
Speaking at a luncheon event in Denpasar on Sunday, the president announced his commitment to developing the North Bali International Airport in Buleleng regency, the island’s largest administrative region situated more than two hours north of the capital.
“We will establish Bali as an economic centre,” the president declared to enthusiastic applause from an audience that included the governor and Gerindra Party-endorsed mayoral candidates for upcoming regional elections. “Indonesia must prosper, and all Indonesians, not just a few, must share in this prosperity.”
The proposed airport project, valued at approximately 17 trillion rupiah ($1.07 billion), would cover 600 hectares according to potential investor PT Bandara Internasional Bali Utara (BIBU). The development marks a significant shift from the island’s historically south-centric development, which has centred around the existing Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The concept isn’t entirely new. Former governor Made Mangku Pastika initially proposed a northern airport in 2014 to address growing congestion concerns. However, the project faced opposition under previous administrations, notably from former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, who argued it would primarily benefit tourists rather than locals.
The announcement comes amid broader discussions about Bali’s development trajectory. Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno recently announced plans to temporarily halt new hotel and villa construction in the south to combat overdevelopment and protect agricultural land. The island welcomed over 15 million visitors in 2023, contributing significantly to Indonesia’s national tourism target of 14 million annual visitors.
Former Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, recently appointed as head of the president’s National Economic Council, has also outlined plans for a light rail transit system connecting the existing airport to popular tourist areas like Kuta, suggesting a comprehensive approach to infrastructure development.
The new airport proposal forms part of upcoming regional election campaigns, with local elections scheduled for November 27th. The president’s vision emphasises the need to “think big” despite scepticism, reflecting his administration’s ambitious economic development agenda for the region.
