The authorities of Bali continue to improve the island’s tourist infrastructure to make vacations even more memorable and comfortable.
Anyone who has ever tried to take a picture of a charming building or a ceremony has likely encountered the issue of wires ruining the shot. Kilometers of tangled cables stretch over narrow streets, roads, and houses. It becomes even more problematic when, after rain or strong winds, these cables break and fall right onto the roads.
While this may add a certain charm typical of Asian countries, in the 21st century, on an island rapidly developing with luxury villas, hotels, and resorts, it seems out of place. Local officials thought the same and finally decided to move these wires underground.
Badung regent I Nyoman Giri Prasta launched a new program called "Bright Badung Without Overhead Cables." He tasked electricians and public works specialists with clearing the tourist zones of hanging wires. Officials believe that this will not only enhance the aesthetics of the areas but also improve safety for locals and tourists.
Acting Secretary of Badung, Ida Bagus Surya Suamba, discussed the government's five-year plan to clear Bali’s streets of cables: “The regency government is not standing still. There is a regional regulation regarding the comprehensive use of underground cables, and we’ve prepared utility networks in tourist areas. For example, in Canggu, we are already moving overhead cables underground.”
He added, “We hope that in the future all entrepreneurs and developers investing in Badung will follow suit.” The role of developers is crucial since their rapid construction of villas, restaurants, beach clubs, and hotels in areas like Seminyak and Canggu has outpaced the supporting public infrastructure.
According to officials, this is one of the projects that will be funded through the tourist tax collected since February 2024. The initial sum of 211.8 billion rupiah has yet to be budgeted or allocated to specific regions.
Another potential use of the funds is the certification of major attractions. The Indonesian Association of Recreational Park Businesses (PUTRI) aims to create new standards to assess the safety and quality of tourist sites.
The Chairman of Bali's Association of Restaurants and Hotels and former deputy governor of the island, Cok Ace, supports the idea of creating a certificate to help tourists identify the quality of attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other sites.
He noted that the rapid development of the tourism sector on the island has led to the emergence of various offers, including those of questionable quality. Previously, Bali’s attractions were divided into three categories: cultural, natural, and “artificial” (commercial). Now, new types are emerging, such as social-ecological attractions like festivals or photo zones with swings in the rice terraces.
“These are new activities. Now there are swings, selfie spots, rafting, and marathon races. Entertainment is in high demand. But if these services are of poor quality and damage the image of tourism, then even five- or ten-star hotels and restaurants are useless,” said Cok Ace.
Thus, they plan to certify activities such as rafting, swing rides, and quad tours first, to control the safety of these attractions. Tourists will be able to rely not only on reviews or online guides but also on official certification when choosing their activities.
Officials drew a comparison to the hotel star rating system, where people choose whether to stay at a five-star or two-star hotel, knowing what level of service to expect. Similarly, for activities, if tourists see a certification indicating the risk level of, for example, rafting, they can make more informed decisions about participating.
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