Balinese royals urge President Prabowo to build North Bali airport
Balinese royal families have called on President Prabowo Subianto to fulfil his commitment to construct a long-awaited international airport in North Bali.
Demands for infrastructure development
Representatives from various Balinese royal houses have formally urged the administration of President Prabowo to prioritise the development of an international airport in the northern part of the province. This project has remained a central topic of regional development discussions for several years, as leaders aim to decentralise tourism from the saturated southern regions of the island.
The proposed infrastructure is intended to stimulate economic growth in North Bali by improving accessibility for international travellers. Local leaders argue that the current reliance on Ngurah Rai International Airport in the south creates significant logistical bottlenecks and prevents the northern districts from realising their full economic potential.
Regional economic implications
The construction of a northern aviation hub is expected to impact several key sectors within the local economy:
- Tourism decentralisation: Spreading visitor numbers more evenly across the island to prevent overcrowding in southern hubs.
- Job creation: Generating employment opportunities in construction, hospitality, and logistics within the northern provinces.
- Infrastructure connectivity: Encouraging further investment in roads, utilities, and public services to support the new terminal.
Royal families have emphasised that the delivery of this project is essential to maintaining the long-term sustainability of Bali's tourism model. They have reminded the central government of previous pledges made regarding the necessity of this gateway to support regional parity.
Strategic importance of the project
While the project has faced various delays and logistical hurdles in recent years, the push from the traditional leadership underscores its cultural and economic weight. The royal houses view the airport not merely as a transport link, but as a vital tool for regional stability and prosperity.
President Prabowo's administration now faces the task of balancing the high capital requirements of such a large-scale project with the urgent demand from regional stakeholders to begin construction and deliver on promised developmental goals.