Bali, that famed Indonesian isle, identified throughout the globe for vibrant tradition and non secular attract, finds itself amidst a daring mission, but a controversial one: a recent worldwide airport, to rise from a 900-hectare synthetic island alongside the shore. Designed within the form of a sea turtle—an animal thought of sacred in Balinese tradition—this formidable mission has sparked each pleasure and opposition attributable to issues of overtourism.
With ambitions for a toll street, a rail line, and a imaginative and prescient for movie tasks dubbed “Baliwood,” the enterprise is something however modest. Nevertheless, questions linger: can Bali maintain such ambition, contemplating present issues round mass tourism, degradation, and cultural preservation?
A Grand Imaginative and prescient for Bali’s Future
The proposed Buleleng airport, located within the island’s northern reaches, is the focus of a complete growth technique. Estimates recommend the mission will generate roughly 200,000 jobs, bringing hope to a area grappling with poverty. Plans incorporate a toll street and a railway for connectivity, addressing the present three-to-four-hour journey from Denpasar to Buleleng. Past tourism, there are additionally aspirations to rework the world into a movie business hub—known as “Baliwood”.
With the ocean turtle design, the terminal goals to mix Balinese custom with up to date fashion. The estimated $3 billion price, probably funded by a Chinese language consortium, has prompted scrutiny of its monetary and environmental implications. Discussions are ongoing concerning the prospect of increasing the already present Bandara Worldwide Airport within the south, with plans to accommodate 32 million passengers by 2031. As of now, the southern airport struggles to maintain up with present demand, marked by as much as 400 every day landings and departures, with some vacationers strolling miles with baggage at peak hours.
Environmental and Social Considerations
Whereas the promise of jobs is interesting, the mission faces opposition. Bali’s enchantment lies in its pure magnificence, however this magnificence is in danger. The creation of a man-made island might negatively influence native ecosystems, together with marine life. WWF voiced worries in 2007 that unplanned tourism had triggered “critical injury” to Bali’s surroundings, and people worries stay. In 2024, Bali obtained almost 24 million guests, a quantity which will develop much more, including to overtourism issues.
Waste administration is a problem, as Bali offers with 33,000 tons of waste yearly, polluting the pure surroundings. Fodor’s Journey Information listed Bali on the high of its 2025 record of locations to keep away from, urging individuals to rethink visiting attributable to this disaster. Moreover, water shortage is of concern, as water wanted for irrigation is more and more diverted to vacationer amenities, impacting native farmers. There are fears that the brand new airport will turn into a “billion-dollar grave” if persistent connectivity points proceed, isolating the area.
The Social Price of Progress
Social components have to be thought of, along with environmental ones. In Bali’s south, rising actual property costs have displaced individuals as overtourism has grown. In Buleleng, this might occur once more, displacing locals as properties cater to richer guests. There are questions concerning whether or not Bali can, or ought to, deal with extra vacationers. Bali’s id, rooted in Hindu traditions, can also be at stake, and fast tourism threatens this id.
A Problematic Answer
Tourism accounts for a considerable amount of Bali’s GDP, making it key to the economic system. The attract of employment and development in Buleleng is kind of sturdy, particularly given the area’s pervasive poverty. Even so, it is inconceivable to miss the environmental and cultural penalties of this formidable mission. The proposed airport presents Bali with an important determination level: harmonizing the pursuit of financial development with the crucial to safeguard its distinctive pure and cultural legacy. This infrastructural mission dangers exacerbating present challenges, like waste administration and water shortage, that the island already faces.
The airport’s sea turtle-shaped design is supposed to echo respect for custom, even when its building might pressure Bali’s ecological equilibrium. There’s a mixture of optimism and rising resistance, which implies that the query persists: Can Bali actually combine this formidable growth with out surrendering its very essence?
