The island of Menjangan in northern Bali is set to be protected from large-scale development and an influx of tourists. The authorities are discussing a new status for the area with a dual purpose—ecological and spiritual—to change the overall approach to how the island is used.
The initiative is being pushed by I Made Supartha, head of the Bali Parliament’s special commission on spatial planning, who stresses that Menjangan must not become just another commercial hotspot driven by short-term profit.
Supartha also highlights that Bali needs balance. The economy, culture and spiritual life should not be at odds. In local tradition, natural and quiet spaces play a key role, especially in spiritual practices.
Menjangan is already part of a protected area, but the commission now wants to restrict large tourism projects, ban major infrastructure development and introduce visitor caps. The proposed limit would be calculated using the principle of “carrying capacity”—how much the island can realistically handle without damage.
At the same time, they are discussing a system-wide solution for all of Bali: a single document to define acceptable pressure on nature and society. It would be prepared by authorities at all levels, from the province to the regencies.
The area is proposed to be divided into zones with different levels of protection and permitted use. Menjangan itself would become a zone with the strictest regime, with no large-scale commercial activity, as priority would be given to nature conservation and spiritual practices.
Surrounding areas, including West Bali National Park, are planned to serve as a buffer zone with limited activity. Environmental programmes and tourism would be allowed there, but still without mass crowds and major infrastructure.
The focus is not only on physical protection. It is also important to preserve the atmosphere: silence, the visual landscape and the overall feel of the place. For Bali, this is not an abstract idea, but part of religious life.
The commission stresses that this is not about holding back development. On the contrary, it is an attempt to set a more sustainable model in which the economy does not destroy the foundations it depends on.
If the initiative is approved, Menjangan could become a flagship area. The question is whether Bali is truly ready to limit tourism in order to preserve authenticity.
You can add one right now!