Bali is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, welcoming millions of visitors every year. However, the island’s only international gateway, Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, is increasingly strained by high passenger volumes and limited expansion capacity. To address this, plans have been discussed to build a second airport in North Bali, but a far more practical and cost-effective solution already exists: Lombok International Airport (LOP).
Lombok International Airport: A Ready-Made Solution
Proximity to Bali’s Main Tourist Areas
One of the biggest drawbacks of a second airport in North Bali is its distance from the island’s most popular destinations. The southern areas of Bali—such as Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, Uluwatu, and Nusa Dua—are the heart of the tourism industry, yet a North Bali airport would be at least a 3- to 4-hour drive from these areas due to the island’s mountainous terrain and narrow roads.
In contrast, Lombok International Airport is only a 30-minute flight from Bali and already has direct connections to Denpasar. With improved ferry or fast-boat connections, travelers could reach South Bali in less than an hour, making it a far superior alternative.
Existing Infrastructure and Expansion Potential
Unlike the proposed North Bali airport, which would require extensive land acquisition and infrastructure development, Lombok International Airport is already built, operational, and expandable. Opened in 2011, it has a 2,750-meter runway that can accommodate large aircraft, including wide-body jets. The airport has modern terminal facilities and is already handling both domestic and international flights.
Expanding Lombok Airport would be far more cost-effective and efficient than constructing an entirely new airport in North Bali from scratch. Additional runways, terminal extensions, and improved transportation links could be developed with significantly less environmental impact compared to clearing large tracts of land in Bali’s northern regions.
Existing and Growing Flight Connectivity
Lombok International Airport already has regular domestic flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, and other major Indonesian cities, as well as international connections to destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. With increased investment, airlines could be incentivized to expand direct international routes, further positioning Lombok as an alternative gateway for travelers heading to Bali.
A Sustainable and Balanced Tourism Strategy
By utilizing Lombok International Airport as a second entry point, Indonesia can distribute tourism more evenly across the region. Bali currently suffers from over-tourism, particularly in the south, leading to traffic congestion, pollution, and environmental degradation. Lombok, on the other hand, has stunning beaches, luxury resorts, and cultural attractions but remains underdeveloped compared to Bali.
Encouraging more visitors to fly into Lombok would relieve pressure on Bali while promoting sustainable tourism growth across both islands. Fast ferries, luxury catamarans, and even a potential bridge or tunnel project in the future could seamlessly integrate Lombok with Bali, benefiting both destinations economically.
A Faster, More Cost-Effective Alternative to a North Bali Airport
Building an entirely new airport in North Bali would take years of planning, billions of dollars in investment, and substantial environmental sacrifices. In contrast, Lombok International Airport already exists and can be upgraded at a fraction of the cost.
Instead of constructing a second airport in a remote part of Bali, Indonesia could focus on improving inter-island connectivity between Bali and Lombok, ensuring seamless transfers for tourists. This approach would be far more time-efficient, financially viable, and sustainable in the long run.
Conclusion
Rather than constructing a costly and logistically challenging airport in North Bali, Indonesia should look toward Lombok International Airport as the second gateway to Bali. With its close proximity, existing infrastructure, international connections, and expansion potential, Lombok Airport is the most practical and immediate solution to Bali’s airport capacity challenges. By leveraging Lombok’s growing tourism industry and improving connectivity between the two islands, Indonesia can create a win-win solution for both Bali and Lombok, ensuring a more balanced and sustainable future for tourism in the region.
