Denpasar Court Sides With Investors in Kelingking Lift Dispute
A panel of judges at the Denpasar State Administrative Court (PTUN-Denpasar) has ruled in favour of the Chinese investment group behind a large glass lift planned for the clifftop at Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida. The September 3, 2026 ruling effectively removes the main legal obstacle that had frozen construction of the 182-metre structure intended to carry visitors from the cliff edge down to the beach below.
What the Court Decided
The case, filed as 17.G/2026/PTUN.A, was brought by PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group against the Head of the Civil Service Police (Kasatpol PP), the provincial enforcement authority known as Satpol PP. At issue was a November 2025 letter ordering Zhang Zhiliang, the company's director, to halt construction and restore the cliffside to its original condition.
Presiding judge Aditya Permata Putra, joined by judges Ryan Surya Pradhana and Ulfa Septian Dika, declared that letter invalid. The court ordered the Kasatpol PP to formally withdraw the stop-work notice and directed the authority to pay court costs of Rp 11,988,000. As of the ruling date, neither the Satpol PP nor the investment group had issued a public statement in response.
A Project That Has Divided Opinion
The Kelingking Beach lift has attracted sustained controversy since it first appeared on the cliffside at one of Bali's most recognisable natural landmarks. Opponents have argued the structure is incompatible with the area's environmental character, while some local voices and at least one national senator have defended the project as a legitimate tourism investment. A previous gubernatorial order had also called for the structure's removal, making the PTUN ruling a significant reversal of the regulatory direction the project had been facing.
The court's decision does not resolve the broader debate about whether a 182-metre glass lift belongs on Nusa Penida's protected coastline. Regulatory or environmental appeals remain possible, and the situation may continue to evolve.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation and tour operators on Nusa Penida and across the broader Bali region should watch this case closely. If construction resumes and the lift eventually opens, Kelingking Beach will likely see a significant increase in visitor throughput, since the steep trail currently limits how many people can reach the beach. Higher footfall at the site could shift visitor patterns island-wide, creating both new demand and new congestion pressure. Operators who already include Nusa Penida day trips in their offerings may want to review how they position Kelingking in itineraries and communicate realistic expectations to guests about the site's changing character.
This post is published on the Qontaktly travel blog. The details of the court ruling were first reported by Bali Discovery (BaliPost as their cited source), whose editorial team covered the September 3, 2026 PTUN-Denpasar proceeding.
First reported by balidiscovery.com.