Bali's traffic jams may soon be a thing of the past, as plans for a new toll road are moving forward. The Indonesian government is planning to build a new toll road that will connect South Bali with North Bali. The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, has confirmed that the project has been approved by the central government and will enter the tendering 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 such as Kuta, Seminyak and Nusa Dua - has driven plans to prevent overtourism in the south and promote more sustainable tourism in the north, west and east of Bali.
New Toll Road to Cut Travel Time in Bali
Connectivity, seen as a major barrier, is a key focus for access to destinations such as Lovina Beach and Pemuteran in Buleleng Regency, as North Bali faces significant accessibility challenges compared to South Bali. Minister Sandiaga Uno explained that the lack of transportation and road network in the north hinders tourist visits from the south, such as Denpasar and Badung.
He also revealed that the best solution to improve Bali's connectivity is to build a toll road connecting the central south to the northern part of the island. This toll road is expected to reduce travel time to North Bali to around 90 minutes, along with improvements to other road networks such as Gilimanuk-Mengwi.
Minister Uno emphasized that the success of this project requires the commitment of local governments, even though central support is already in place, with the goal of reducing congestion, shortening travel times, and stimulating the local economy.
New Airport to Improve Connectivity
The decision to build the North Bali International Airport is also part of a plan to spread tourism development more evenly across the island. Indonesia's President-elect, Prabowo Subianto, has committed to fast-tracking this project to overcome the challenges of distance and travel time that have long hindered the development of North Bali.
The new airport in North 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 is designed to relieve pressure on South Bali and support sustainable tourism in the North.
By creating new entry points, the airport and toll road are expected to reduce congestion, shorten travel times, and stimulate the local economy. The success of this project depends heavily on the commitment of local governments, although central government support is already in place.
New Tour Packages and Strategic Initiatives
For short-term strategies, the government is developing plans to boost tourism in North Bali, including the launch of new tour packages with fast boat services to popular locations such as Watudodol, Bangsring, Pemuteran, and Lovina. These packages are expected to be operational within 30 days and will connect North Bali with East Java via Banyuwangi Airport for easier access.
This effort also includes partnerships with Wonderful Indonesia to attract more domestic and international visitors to key destinations such as Lovina Beach, known for its spinner dolphins, Pemuteran, known for its coral reefs and mangrove restoration projects, and the cultural villages in Bali Barat National Park.
