TANAH DAN WISATA - Ekspedisi Indonesia Biru #15

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26 Sept 201610:14

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the reclamation of Teluk Benoa in Bali. Local business owners like Nyoman Sugite express concerns that the reclamation project will harm the environment and negatively impact tourism, which has already declined due to overdevelopment and increased competition. There are fears that rising sea levels and tidal changes, exacerbated by reclamation, will worsen the situation. While some support the project for its potential to create jobs and improve infrastructure, others see it as detrimental to Bali's cultural and environmental heritage, sparking protests and debates.

Takeaways

🌊 The reclamation project in Teluk Benoa has sparked mixed feelings among locals, with some believing it will harm the environment and others seeing potential benefits.
📸 Nyoman Sugite, a local entrepreneur, has been documenting the changes in Teluk Benoa and is concerned about the potential impact on his business.
🏊 The sea level around Nyoman's property has been rising, even without reclamation, leading to construction of barriers to protect his pool.
💼 Nyoman's tourism business has been declining over the past 10-15 years, with increased competition and reduced quality of tourists visiting Bali.
🛣️ Nyoman believes the construction of the Bali Mandara toll road is linked to the reclamation plan, built to serve investors' interests rather than the community.
📉 The Bali Mandara toll road is experiencing financial losses, with fewer cars using it than anticipated, suggesting it may not have been needed for traffic purposes.
🗣️ Public consultation on the reclamation project saw divided opinions; some supported it for economic reasons, while others were concerned about its cultural and environmental impacts.
📢 Nyoman criticizes the lack of transparency in the reclamation project, feeling that the government is not adequately addressing community concerns.
🏞️ Investors in the reclamation project argue that they are also contributing to improving the environment, such as managing waste flowing into the reclaimed areas.
🏝️ Despite the push for development in southern Bali, there are areas like Tenganan that have resisted giving up land for tourism, maintaining their unique cultural heritage.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by Nyoman Sugite regarding the reclamation of Teluk Benoa?
-Nyoman Sugite is concerned that the reclamation of Teluk Benoa will worsen the tourism industry, which has already been declining in quality over the past 10-15 years. He believes the reclamation will negatively affect his business and the overall tourism experience.
How has tourism in Bali changed according to Nyoman Sugite in the last 10-15 years?
-According to Nyoman Sugite, tourism in Bali has deteriorated in the last 10-15 years, with an increase in price competition and the overdevelopment of hotels. As a result, the quality of tourism has decreased, and many visitors are now from the middle to lower economic class.
What connection does Nyoman Sugite see between the construction of the Bali Mandara toll road and the reclamation of Teluk Benoa?
-Nyoman Sugite believes the construction of the Bali Mandara toll road, which started in 2012, is linked to the reclamation of Teluk Benoa. He suspects the toll road was part of the infrastructure needed to support future reclamation and development projects, although this was never publicly disclosed.
Why does Nyoman Sugite think the Bali Mandara toll road is not a necessary project?
-Nyoman Sugite thinks the Bali Mandara toll road was not built based on actual traffic needs. He argues that the low number of vehicles using the toll road and the financial losses reported by the company operating it suggest that it was built for other purposes, such as facilitating the reclamation and investment projects, rather than addressing traffic congestion.
What is the reaction of some business owners and residents to the reclamation project in Teluk Benoa?
-Some business owners and residents, including Nyoman Sugite, are critical of the reclamation project. They argue that the project will harm the environment and the tourism industry, and they feel the government has not been transparent in its planning or communication with the public.
What are some of the arguments presented in favor of the reclamation project?
-Supporters of the reclamation project argue that it will bring more investment, create job opportunities, and help revitalize the area. They believe that the development will improve infrastructure and provide economic benefits to the region.
How does the investor from PT Tirta Wahana Bali respond to the concerns about the environmental impact of the reclamation?
-The investor from PT Tirta Wahana Bali argues that their project will not harm the environment and that they will take responsibility for managing the waste and cleaning the area. They emphasize that they will contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the environment around Teluk Benoa as part of their investment.
What transparency issues are raised regarding the reclamation of Teluk Benoa?
-Residents and business owners, like Nyoman Sugite, raise concerns about the lack of transparency in the planning and development of the reclamation project. They feel that the government did not adequately inform or involve the public in the decision-making process, leading to suspicion and opposition.
What economic concerns are associated with the reclamation project?
-Economic concerns related to the reclamation project include the possibility of rising property prices, making it unaffordable for local businesses and residents. Additionally, there is skepticism about whether the project will truly benefit the local economy or simply serve private investors.
What is the significance of the village of Tenganan in contrast to other areas of Bali?
-Tenganan is significant because it is a village in Karangasem that has chosen not to sell any of its land for tourism development, unlike other areas of Bali. Despite being a popular tourist destination, the village has maintained its traditional practices and resisted outside investment, standing in contrast to the overdevelopment seen in southern Bali.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 The Struggles of Reclamation and Rising Sea Levels

This paragraph discusses the ongoing reclamation of Benoa Bay, highlighting the environmental impact and concerns raised by locals. A person named Nyoman expresses frustration about rising sea levels that affect his business, explaining that the reclamation project has caused seawater to flood his property. He believes the natural tidal changes are being exacerbated by human intervention, particularly reclamation efforts. Nyoman's business, with 50 employees, is suffering due to the declining quality of tourism in Bali, which he attributes to increased competition, lower-quality tourists, and a rise in the number of hotels.

05:01

🏗️ Transparency Issues in Development Plans

The second paragraph covers a discussion on the lack of transparency surrounding the development of infrastructure, particularly the Bali Mandara Toll Road. Nyoman and other Bali residents were unaware of the connection between the construction of the toll road and the reclamation of Benoa Bay until it was too late. Nyoman believes the toll road was built to serve future developments, such as a proposed island, rather than to alleviate traffic. The toll road has been financially unsuccessful, which Nyoman interprets as a sign that the infrastructure was built without proper traffic demand in mind.

10:02

👏 Public Protest Against Reclamation

This brief paragraph features applause and indicates public sentiment surrounding the reclamation project. Although many have protested the reclamation, the plan shows no signs of stopping. Public forums have been held, with some participants supporting the project for its potential to create jobs and attract tourists, while others fear it will damage Bali’s culture and environment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Reclamation

Reclamation refers to the process of creating new land from oceans, seas, or other water bodies. In the video, it specifically addresses the ongoing and controversial project to reclaim land in Teluk Benoa, Bali. This project is seen as a threat to the environment, particularly by those who rely on tourism and fear it will damage natural ecosystems and affect business negatively.

💡Teluk Benoa

Teluk Benoa is a bay in Bali, Indonesia, and the central focus of the video. It is being targeted for reclamation, which has sparked protests and opposition from locals who argue that the project will harm the environment and tourism. The bay is depicted as a natural asset for the community, with concerns about its degradation if the reclamation proceeds.

💡Tourism

Tourism is a key industry in Bali and a major theme in the video. The discussion revolves around how tourism in Bali has changed over the past decade, with declining quality and increasing competition. The reclamation project is seen as a further threat to tourism, particularly for businesses like Nyoman's that are already struggling due to the saturation of hotels and reduced tourist spending.

💡Environmental Impact

Environmental impact refers to the effects that the reclamation of Teluk Benoa would have on the natural environment. The video highlights concerns about rising sea levels, flooding, and pollution. Nyoman, a business owner, mentions how the sea has already started to flood his property, indicating the delicate balance of nature in the area that could be further disturbed by reclamation.

💡Business Decline

The decline in business, particularly in the tourism sector, is a significant theme. Nyoman notes that his tourism business has seen a downturn over the past 10 to 15 years, with lower-quality tourists and increased competition driving prices down. The reclamation is feared to exacerbate this decline by further damaging the local environment and reducing Bali's appeal to tourists.

💡Government Transparency

Government transparency is a key issue raised by Nyoman and others in the video. There is frustration over the lack of clear communication from the government regarding the reclamation project. Nyoman mentions that the toll road built in 2012 seemed to be part of the reclamation plan, but there was no public discussion or disclosure, leading to distrust among the local population.

💡Bali Mandara Toll Road

The Bali Mandara Toll Road, constructed in 2012, is referenced as a key infrastructure project that raised suspicions about its connection to the reclamation of Teluk Benoa. While the road was officially intended to ease traffic between major tourist destinations, Nyoman and others believe it was built to facilitate future reclamation projects, which they argue were not publicly disclosed.

💡Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism in Bali is a significant theme, especially in opposition to the reclamation. The video mentions that some locals believe that Bali's tourism is already sufficient and based on its rich culture. Reclamation projects are seen as potentially damaging to the island's cultural and environmental heritage, which form the core of its appeal to tourists.

💡Investor Interests

Investor interests are highlighted through the perspective of developers backing the reclamation project. Investors claim that the project will bring more business opportunities and job creation. However, critics argue that these developments serve the interests of investors more than the local population, with concerns about property prices becoming unaffordable for residents.

💡Public Consultation

Public consultation refers to the forum held in March 2015, where the government discussed the reclamation project with locals. The consultation is described as divided, with some supporting the project for economic reasons, while others opposed it due to concerns about the environment and Bali's traditional culture. The event is significant in showing the conflicting views on the project's future.

Highlights

The reclamation project at Teluk Benoa is moving forward despite resistance, with the site now being developed for marine tourism activities such as diving and water sports.

Nyoman Sugite, a business owner, expresses concerns about the impact of reclamation on the tourism industry, noting that tourism has declined over the past 10-15 years due to increased competition and lower-quality tourists.

There is frustration among locals regarding the lack of transparency in the reclamation planning process, particularly about the construction of the Bali Mandara Toll Road, which many believe is part of the reclamation strategy.

The toll road was built to connect Nusa Dua, Ngurah Rai Airport, and Tanjung Benoa, but it has faced financial losses due to fewer vehicles than expected, with reports of a loss of Rp3 billion per month.

Nyoman suggests that the toll road was built under the guise of solving traffic congestion, but he believes it primarily serves investors rather than addressing local needs.

A public consultation forum held on March 11, 2015, revealed a divided opinion about the reclamation, with some supporting it for economic growth and job creation, while others opposed it for its environmental impact.

PT Tirta Wahana Bali International, the main investor, defends the project, claiming that they will contribute to environmental protection by cleaning up the area and revitalizing the Teluk.

Critics argue that the reclamation will destroy Bali's cultural and nature-based tourism model, which has thrived without the need for major land developments.

Nyoman links the construction of the toll road directly to the planned reclamation, stating that the road’s tapered structures will eventually connect to the artificial islands being built as part of the project.

There are concerns that Bali’s tourism quality has declined due to the oversaturation of hotels and price wars, leading to a less affluent tourist base.

The investor believes that by taking responsibility for the environmental cleanup, they will also add value to the property and create an attractive area for future development.

Nyoman speculates that the investor’s claims of revitalizing the area are part of a broader effort to push the property’s market value to levels unaffordable for the local community.

The consultation process has been criticized for failing to adequately involve local communities, leaving them feeling sidelined by corporate interests.

Environmental groups and local business owners fear that the reclamation will lead to the destruction of marine ecosystems and local fishing industries.

In contrast to the reclamation efforts, some areas of Bali, like the village of Tenganan, have successfully resisted large-scale tourism development while still attracting a significant number of tourists, preserving their cultural heritage.