Glass Lift in Nusa Penida: Between Tourism Innovation and Bali's Conservation Commitment

Imagine standing atop the steep cliffs of Nusa Penida, the sea breeze gently blowing, while below stretches the captivating blue of Kelingking Beach, renowned worldwide. Soon, that amazing experience will feature a new sensation: a 182-meter-high glass elevator touted to be one of the most iconic tourist facilities in eastern Bali.

However, behind this stunning innovation, the central and regional governments are ensuring one crucial thing: the natural beauty of Nusa Penida must remain preserved.

Maintaining the Balance Between Tourism and Nature

The Ministry of Tourism, alongside the Klungkung Regency Government, is monitoring the development of the glass elevator to ensure compliance with regulations and sustainability principles.

"The Ministry of Tourism will oversee the construction process of this elevator together with the Bali Provincial Office, the Klungkung Regency Tourism Office, and related parties to ensure its implementation adheres to applicable regulations and maintains and considers the existing environmental conditions," said Hariyanto, Deputy for Destination and Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of Tourism.

Since the planning stage in 2023, supervision has been stringent to guarantee that the construction prioritizes safety, cleanliness, and environmental sustainability.

A New Curiosity-Inducing Attraction

The Klungkung Regency Tourism Office believes the glass elevator will become a new attraction capable of extending tourists' length of stay. 

Imagine tourists enjoying sea views through glass walls while descending directly to the shore of Kelingking Beach, previously only accessible via a steep trek.

However, on the other hand, preserving the authenticity of the cliff and beach landscape is also a serious concern. The government emphasizes that any destination development must maintain local cultural identity and natural beauty to avoid losing its original charm.

Building with Green Principles

In its policy direction, the Ministry of Tourism urges that the glass elevator construction apply green construction and renewable energy.

"The Ministry of Tourism also urges the elevator developer to implement green construction standards during the construction process and, going forward, utilize technology powered by renewable energy sources to minimize the impact on global warming," stated Hariyanto.

This step aligns with the vision of Sustainable Tourism as regulated in Ministerial Regulation of Tourism and Creative Economy Number 9 of 2021, which emphasizes the balance between economy, nature conservation, and tourist comfort.

Involve Local Residents, Preserve Local Wisdom

Beyond infrastructure, the development of this glass elevator will also involve local communities in its operation and planning.

“All aspects of tourism sector development must apply sustainable principles and uphold local cultural values to avoid eroding the local cultural identity,” Hariyanto emphasized.

This way, the economic benefits of tourism are felt not only by investors but also by surrounding residents.

Tourist Visits Increase

Although construction is still underway, data shows tourist visits to Nusa Penida have increased.

“Based on data from the Klungkung Regency Tourism Office, the number of tourist visits to Nusa Penida increased from 714,335 visits in 2023 to 1,108,791 visits in 2024,” revealed Hariyanto.

Global achievements further strengthen this optimism. Nusa Penida was recently crowned Best Beach in the World by Tripadvisor 2024 and Trip Best 2025 Global Water Fun Attraction by Trip.com.

“With tourist visits reaching around 3,000-6,000 per day, the Klungkung Regency Government is optimistic that the target of 1.5 million tourist visits can be achieved by 2025,” he added.

Between Controversy and Hope

This glass elevator project has sparked intense debate on social media. Some residents feel the 182-meter-tall structure and 64-meter-long bridge are obscuring Kelingking Beach's natural panorama.

However, if supervision continues and sustainability principles are genuinely implemented, this project has the potential to become an example of harmony between tourism innovation and nature conservation.(Amtara)