Jimbaran Beach in Bali continues to be a highly popular destination on the island due to its international hotels, beautiful beach, and renowned seafood restaurants. It is no wonder that thousands of holidaymakers choose Jimbaran Beach as their go-to coastal retreat each year.
To enhance accessibility for tourists, the Badung Regency Government has announced a series of new zoning policies, renovations, and upgrades in the vicinity of Jimbaran Beach. These measures are intended to promote Jimbaran Beach as a top destination, thereby generating more revenue for local businesses.
The Regent of Badung, I Nyoman Giri Prasta, explained that the Jimbaran area will be divided into distinct zones based on specific public functions. These include areas for traditional fishing and the fish market, temples, economic businesses, and hospitality.
Regent Prasta believes that these new zoning arrangements, coupled with changes to road access, will positively impact the safety, comfort, and economic growth of the tourism sector in Jimbaran. He envisions Jimbaran Beach becoming an iconic tourist destination on the Island of the Gods, contributing to increased local revenue for the Badung Regency.
Prasta is committed to realizing his plans to rezone Jimbaran and improve road access to both Jimbaran Beach and the nearby Uluwatu Beach before his retirement. These infrastructure upgrades and the management of tourism resources have garnered strong support from village leaders and local communities, who have long awaited such improvements.
The proposed rezoning and the construction of a new road will enhance connectivity between Jimbaran and Kedonganan. Earlier this year, community leaders, along with representatives from Pecatu Customary Village, expressed their support for five new access routes into the Uluwatu resort area from the north.
These infrastructural developments and improvements are expected to benefit tourists by reducing traffic congestion and travel distances. The Chief of the Jimbaran Traditional Village, I Gusti Made Rai Dirga Arsana Putra, acknowledged the community’s request for assistance in building an alternative road in the coastal area, which has been planned since 2015. The community, coastal residents, and fishermen have all voiced their agreement and support for the project.
While there is widespread support from local community groups, not everyone is satisfied with the scale and scope of the impending infrastructural changes. Three hotels located along the proposed route of the coastal access road have lodged a formal protest with the central government, which is now examining the potential environmental impacts. The complaint is currently being handled by the Badung Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR), which has stated that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment must be conducted before final approval is granted.
Nevertheless, all parties involved seem eager to implement infrastructural and access improvements in Jimbaran and Uluwatu, as tourist interest in the area continues to grow. Surya Suamba from the PUPR mentioned that if constructing the road above land proves infeasible, an underground tunnel design will be considered to facilitate better access for tourists.
Jimbaran has much to offer tourists, with its renowned beachfront seafood restaurants being particularly famous. Visitors from around the world come to Jimbaran specifically to savor freshly caught seafood prepared with traditional Balinese culinary expertise. Additionally, Jimbaran serves as an excellent base for exploring other parts of the island, as it is only a 90-minute drive from Ubud, an hour from Canggu, and just 15 minutes from the airport.
Tourism development along the Bukit Peninsula, spanning from Jimbaran to Uluwatu and extending along the coast to Nusa Dua, is experiencing a significant boom. As with any infrastructural growth, there are differing opinions, with some individuals fully supportive and others expressing concerns about the long-term impact of construction and infrastructure on the island’s natural beauty.
