KLUNGKUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Despite ongoing public debate, residents of Nusa Penida are calling for the completion of the glass lift project at Kelingking Beach, arguing that the facility would significantly benefit both tourists and the local community.
Wayan Arjana, a local resident and lifeguard at Kelingking Beach, expressed strong support for continuing the project. With daily firsthand experience assisting visitors along the steep path, he said only a small number of tourists currently make it down to the beach due to the challenging terrain.
“Only a few visitors go all the way down because the path is rough and very steep,” Arjana said on Monday, 8 December 2025.
According to him, the ascent is even more difficult. “Going back up is tough. Many visitors get sick along the way, and we often have to carry them up on stretchers,” he explained.
Arjana believes the glass lift would greatly improve visitor access and safety.
“I guarantee this will make it much easier for people who have never gone down to the beach. Once completed, this place will become one of the best in Asia,” he said.
He added that the lift would also be invaluable during emergencies. “If there is an accident, the lift could help evacuate victims. Recently a guest from East Java was rescued using the construction crane because the path is too difficult for carrying victims up,” he said.
Another local resident, Komang Silat, who works as a tourism driver, voiced similar support. “With the lift, tourists can go down smoothly, and emergency response will be faster. As a Nusa Penida resident, I fully support completing the project for tourism development,” he said.
Regarding concerns that the lift may damage the natural environment, Komang disagreed. “From what I see, nothing has been damaged. The view remains unobstructed,” said the resident of Batumadeg Village.
The legal representative for the project investor, I Gede Adi Putrawan, also called for a reasonable solution to the construction halt. “Many people who were initially skeptical now support the lift because the claims about environmental damage are not accurate. If it were harmful, the local community would not support it,” he stated.