Leaders in Bali are on a mission to make the island as walkable as possible. With a specific focus on making the island’s most popular beach resorts as accessible as possible, leaders have looked to Australia for inspiration.
The Badung Regency Government, who oversee designations like Kuta, Legian, Canggu, and Uluwatu, is on a mission to make the region more pedestrian-friendly.
At present, many of Bali’s lead-in beach resort areas offer insufficient access, which at best is an inconvenience to tourists, and at worst, a real danger.
The Regent of Badung, Wayan Adi Arnawa, has spoken to reports about plans to adopt a Gold Coast-style beachwalk in the Kuta area. He cited the Gold Coast’s well-developed pedestrian infrastructure, beach access, pedestrian shopping centres, and well-integrated surf and Watersport access as an inspiration for future plans for Kuta.
Regent Arnawa told reporters, “We will arrange pedestrian access from the Pantai Jerman coast to the north so tourists can walk or exercise along the beach. So it becomes a plus for tourists who stay in Kuta. Like in Gold Coast, the pedestrianised areas are wide and comfortable.”
He added that he and his team are in talks with beachfront traders and businesses in Kuta and Pantai Jerman to ensure that access remains in place for businesses as well. He noted, “We have checked several lands that can be used for that. Easily by 2026 it can be realised.”
Regent Arnawa spoke with concern that traffic congestion is worsening in the Kuta Beach area. He agreed that revitalisation of the Kuta resort area, including new traffic management systems, is a priority.
He explained, “Congestion is a serious problem for us, with this arrangement, the tourist attractions will be reduced. We hope that many tourists will celebrate New Year’s Eve along the beach, such as in Kuta.”
Looking further down the coast, Regent Arnawa spoke of improvements set to be implemented in the Cemagi area, along with Canggu’s Pererenan and Berawa.
He told reporters, “I want to make sure that the infrastructure in Cemagi is a decent, representative infrastructure, so that we hope that tourists will feel more comfortable staying in Cemagi. Because for us in Badung, our income is from the tourism sector.”
Speaking to reporters on the 1st July, Regent Arnawa laid out his specific vision for Pererenan, which is notable as one of the busiest and most popular beach resorts in the world since being named TimeOut Magazine’s coolest neighbourhood of the year in 2024.
Regent Arnawa shared, “The arrangement of this coastal area is important for the comfort of all. Not only tourists but also local people who use the beach for spiritual and cultural activities.”
He added, “The beaches of Badung are not only a tourist attraction but also have high spiritual and cultural value for the community, especially as a place to carry out religious ceremonies such as melasti and a series of other yadnya facilities.”
He confirmed that pedestrian access is not the only infrastructure improvement that tourists can expect to see in these areas, but increased access to shade to allow for comfortable exploration during the heat of the day, as well as improved street lighting for safer navigation by night.
Over in Kuta, bigger and more noticeable improvements will be implemented to help improve the tourist experience.
In addition to improved pedestrian access, the clearing up of unsightly overhead cables, shade, and street lights, new breakwaters are being installed to help ensure that coastal erosion does not negatively impact the beachfront for generations to come.
New breakwaters are already being constructed in the Kuta area, and while tourists may see some of the construction underway, leaders have given assurances that the work will not impact tourists’ visit.
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