The governor of Bali has ordered the permanent shutdown of a controversial China-backed glass lift project on one of the island’s iconic cliffs, following widespread public backlash that erupted after photos of the construction went viral.
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Analysts say the decision reflects broader concerns about how major tourism projects in Indonesia move through a fragmented permit system, with some describing the lift as a case study in how central government approvals can collide with local priorities.
Speaking on Sunday, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said: “I decided to take firm action, by ordering PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group to stop all glass elevator construction activities.”
The 200 billion rupiah (US$12 million) project called for a 182-metre (597-foot) glass lift and a 64-metre (210-foot) bridge to ease access to Kelingking Beach on Bali’s Nusa Penida island, a tourism magnet famed for its striking “T-Rex” shaped cliff.
Tourists currently descend a roughly 300-metre (980-foot) slope via a narrow and often treacherous path, with injuries common during the climb.
The lift was being developed by China-funded PT Indonesia Kaishi in partnership with local firm PT Bina Nusa Properti.