Aftermath of Glass Lift Demolition: REI Urges Bali Provincial Government to Eliminate Ambiguous Investment Rules

The demolition of the glass lift project at Tebing Kelingking, Nusa Penida, has triggered a wave of demands from property industry players for legal certainty in investments in Bali. The firm action by the Bali Provincial Government, which led to the halt of the project owned by a Chinese investor, is seen as an important precedent regarding the need for regulations that are not open to multiple interpretations. Investors require standard guidelines so that every investment step has a strong legal foundation from the initial permitting process. “We from REI hope that regulations or rules from the government are clear and firm, so that investors can obtain definite legal protection,” said Darma to Kompas.com on Saturday (18/4/2026). The case at Tebing Kelingking stemmed from alleged violations of environmental permits and spatial utilisation that were deemed to damage the aesthetics and preservation of Bali’s iconic cliffs. However, the forced demolition has provoked resistance from the investor side, who claim to have obtained several initial permits. Without straightforward regulations, investments in Bali’s tourism and property sectors risk being trapped in administrative uncertainty that could tarnish the image of the business climate internationally. Although the tourism sector is facing tight regulatory challenges, the general property market conditions, particularly housing, show a different trend. Darma noted that the housing sector in Bali remains a promising investment instrument with stable market absorption. “For the property sector, especially housing, it is still running well, so demand for housing in Bali remains good,” added Darma. Nevertheless, the turmoil of the Tebing Kelingking project serves as an alarm for the Bali Provincial Government to promptly tidy up the regional spatial planning. The synchronisation between economic growth needs and environmental protection must be enshrined in policies that do not change midway. “If rules are enforced firmly from the planning stage, cases of demolishing large projects that waste investment capital unnecessarily will not need to recur,” concluded Darma.