As voters in Indonesia prepare for regional elections, over-development is high on the agenda in Bali. Politicians are proposing a temporary ban on new tourism builds as the Island grapples with a growing influx of digital nomads and foreign property investors.
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00:00It's been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but Bali's Kelingking
00:07Beach is about to undergo a controversial transformation.
00:11The local village authorities have brought in a Chinese company to build a 182-metre
00:16high elevator and viewing platform.
00:19Once it's built, would you ride on the glass elevator?
00:22No, never.
00:23Never?
00:24Never.
00:25That's how strongly you feel about it?
00:26Never.
00:27Never.
00:28Activist Nilu Jelantik is part of a growing pushback in Bali against what she sees as
00:33excessive development.
00:35And it's Bali's famous rice terraces where the biggest changes are happening.
00:39Farmers are giving up growing rice, very little income, and sell the land, tons of money.
00:48There's a villa boom taking place, partly fuelled by foreign investors.
00:52Conservationists worry that serene inland areas like Ubud might go the way of coastal
00:57hotspots like Canggu, where megaclubs and apartment blocks compete for space.
01:03You have a lot of celebrities coming to Bali.
01:05It's like the Asian Ibiza at the moment, so people love it.
01:09Sales rep Arthur Richard is from a Ukrainian-owned developer.
01:13He says they're employing 900 people and helping Bali's economy.
01:17It's a tricky issue for the island's politicians to deal with, given visitors drive up to 80
01:22per cent of Bali's economy.
01:25I think it comes back to if there are people who want to come to Bali, we're not going
01:30to reject them, as long as visitors who come follow the rules of Indonesia.
01:36Development will be in focus as Bali's voters choose a new governor in November.
01:40Leaders will be tasked with trying to preserve the culture and environment of an island that
01:45so many people want a piece of.