Traffic jams in Bali could soon be a thing of the past as plans for a brand new toll road are underway. The Indonesian government is planning to construct a brand new toll road that can connect South Bali with North Bali. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno confirmed that the project has been approved by the central government and can enter the tender phase in 2025.
Improving connectivity between southern Bali and northern resorts is a top priority for Minister Sandiaga Uno and tourism stakeholders. The concentration of tourism in Badung regency – home to popular destinations resembling Kuta, Seminyak and Nusa Dua – has led to plans to stop overtourism within the south and promote more sustainable tourism in north, west and east Bali.
New toll road to be cut Travel time to Bali
Connectivity, seen as a significant barrier, is a key access point to destinations resembling Lovina Beach and Pemuteran in Buleleng Regency, as North Bali faces significant accessibility challenges in comparison with South Bali. Minister Sandiaga Uno explained that the shortage of transport and road networks within the north makes it difficult for tourists from the south, resembling Denpasar and Badung, to go to.
He also revealed that the very best solution to enhance connectivity in Bali is to construct a toll road connecting the central south with the northern a part of the island. This toll road is predicted to scale back travel time to northern Bali to about 90 minutes, together with improvements to other road networks resembling Gilimanuk-Mengwi.
Minister Uno stressed that the success of this project requires the involvement of local governments, although central support is already provided, and its aim is to scale back traffic jams, shorten travel times and stimulate the local economy.
The recent airport will improve connectivity
The decision to construct the North Bali International Airport can also be a part of a plan to spread tourism development evenly across the island. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto has pledged to speed up the project to beat the challenges of distance and travel time which have long hindered North Bali’s development.
The recent airport in northern Bali will complement the proposed toll road, making the northern region more accessible and helping to spread tourists more evenly across the island. This initiative goals to ease pressure on southern Bali and support sustainable tourism within the north.
By creating recent entry points, the airport and toll road are expected to scale back traffic congestion, shorten travel times and boost the local economy. The success of this project depends largely on the commitment of local authorities, although support from the central government is already secured.
New Tour Packages and Strategic Initiatives
As a part of its short-term strategies, the federal government is developing plans to spice up tourism in northern Bali, including launching recent tour packages with fast boat services to popular destinations resembling Watudodol, Bangsring, Pemuteran and Lovina. These packages are expected to be operational inside 30 days and can connect northern Bali with East Java via Banyuwangi Airport for easier access.
These activities also include working with Wonderful Indonesia to draw more domestic and international tourists to destinations resembling Lovina Beach, famous for its spinnaker dolphins, Pemuteran, known for its coral reefs and mangrove restoration projects, and the cultural villages in Bali Barat National Park.
