The discourse surrounding a potential second air hub in northern Bali continues, yet many within the tourism sector, as reported by TTG Asia, emphasize that the island’s more pressing need lies in strategic upgrades and expansion of its ground transportation systems.
The concept of a new airport emerged from Bali’s provincial administration, driven by the belief that the 17 million passenger capacity of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is insufficient to handle the projected surge in visitor numbers. Currently, Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, has indicated that the government is still weighing its options regarding this proposal. However, the immediate priority appears to be optimizing the existing airport in southern Bali, perhaps through measures like constructing an additional runway.
Ida Bagus Agung Partha, who chairs the Bali Tourism Board (GIPI), strongly advocates for a shift in focus. He urges the Indonesian government to channel its efforts into enhancing the road network and port facilities. This, he argues, would significantly improve accessibility for travelers moving across Bali. “The current state of our roads and the scarcity of alternative transport methods are what truly hinder tourists from fully discovering Bali,” he explained. “Furthermore, such infrastructural advancements could serve as a magnet for new investments, fostering entrepreneurial growth for our local communities.”
This perspective is echoed by Ketut Ardana, chairman of ASITA Bali Chapter. “With a superior road infrastructure, tour operators would be empowered to design engaging road trip itineraries to northern Bali,” Ardana stated. “This would help distribute Bali’s tourism traffic, moving it beyond the heavily concentrated areas of Kuta and Nusa Dua.” He further elaborated, “Bali boasts some of Indonesia’s most breathtaking scenic drives, yet the journey from Ngurah Rai to northern Bali currently takes upwards of three hours. If we could reduce that travel time to, say, ninety minutes, a significantly higher number of tourists would choose road trips as their preferred mode of exploration.”
Ida Bagus Lolec Surakusuma, the managing director of Pacific World Nusantara, offered a concise summary of the situation: “What Bali truly requires is a broader range of offerings and destinations, not another airport. Our focus should be on fostering greater innovation.”
