The North Bali Airport construction project in Buleleng Regency, Bali, continues after being delayed for years.
A video about the construction of the North Bali airport is circulating. However, the construction of the airport has encountered many obstacles. It seems that the construction will continue as it already has the support of some Balinese cultural figures.
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Previously, the construction of North Bali Airport in Buleleng was officially postponed. President Joko Widodo has also removed North Bali Airport from the list of National Strategic Projects.
Wayan Koster, while still serving as Governor of Bali, said that the construction of the North Bali Airport project was postponed because it needed adequate supporting infrastructure. He wanted the North Bali Airport to avoid eventually having the same fate as several airports in Indonesia that were stalled after being inaugurated due to a lack of infrastructure.
However, several national media outlets have reported that the construction of the North Bali airport will soon continue.
President Director of PT North Bali International Airport (BIBU) Panji Sakti Erwanto Sad Adiatmoko Hariwibowo said the North Bali Airport development project in Buleleng Regency, Bali, will soon continue after being delayed for years.
“Two weeks ago, I received information from the relevant ministry that the airport will be built soon. Well, for that, we, as the initiator, have been fully supported by the Balinese people to immediately build according to the target in 2026; it can be used,” he said, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
According to Panji, the construction of an airport in Buleleng Regency is needed because Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport is already very busy. Panji then gave an example: during the holiday season at the end of last year, a long traffic jam occurred on the route to the airport until passengers got off on foot to the airport.
“Because Ngurah Rai Airport is so congested. At the end of last year, passengers came down to the street carrying their suitcases. Studies say in 2026 Ngurah Rai will be stuck,” he continued.
A number of Puri figures (Tokoh Puri) or royal figures in Bali support PT BIBU Panji Sakti in starting the construction of the North Bali International Airport.
A number of Puri figures met at Pura Ageng Blahbatuh Gianyar Bali on Tuesday, namely the King of Klungkung Ida Dalem Semara Putra, the Puri Agung Peliatan figure Ida Cokorda Gde Putra Nindya, and the Puri Agung Blahbatuh figure Anak Agung Ngurah Kakarsana.
Then the figure of Puri Anyar Kerambitan Anak Agung Ngurah Bagus Erawan, Puri Anom Tabanan figure Anak Agung Ngurah Panji Astika, Puri Anyar Tabanan figure Anak Agung Ngurah Agung Juliartawa, and Puri Agung Singaraja figure Anak Agung Ngurah Ugrasena.
In addition to these figures, there were also representatives of 13 village heads, fishermen groups, Kelian Adat, and Pengempon Pura Penyusuhan from the traditional village community.
North Bali Airport Development Was Criticized
Previously, the 5th President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, had criticized the North Bali Airport development plan. She even reprimanded Wayan Koster when he was still the Governor of Bali.
According to Megawati, the existence of a new airport in Bali will only make it crowded. She was worried that the project would damage Bali and its society.
BIBU Director Panji Sakti Erwanto assured that the development would not damage Balinese culture.
“I believe she (Megawati) has not fully understood the construction of the North Bali Airport. Nothing is lost; culture will not be lost. That this is in the interests of investors is also not,” he said.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno also had a different opinion when the media asked for his opinion on the construction of the North Bali airport.
According to Sandiaga, they can first optimize existing airports. He said that the Banyuwangi airport in East Java could be optimized to increase domestic tourist visits to West Bali.
Sandiaga revealed that the average domestic tourist who travels through the airport recorded only 10 percent. Meanwhile, 80 percent of the routes are land, and 10 percent are sea routes.
Therefore, he encouraged the next government to study more deeply if they wanted to build an airport in North Bali, precisely in Buleleng Regency, Bali.
Thus, the decision can later produce quality and environmentally friendly tourism.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that his party needed the authority to support or reject the plan to build a new airport in North Bali.
“We are not in a position to provide support or not support, but in guarding tourism in Bali and Indonesia in general for quality visits and environmental sustainability, of course, this plan must be carefully thought out because now there is a large airport in Banyuwangi,” he told Kompas.com.
