Bali News / Bali Travel and Holiday Updates

If Indonesia has not affected by monetary crisis back in 1998 most likely Bali Festival Park on Padang Galak beach, Sanur remains in operation. Recreational park occupying 8.98 hectares of beach front plot on is now abandoned and all buildings have been heavily damaged and therefore requires total renovation.
Bali Governor Mangku Pastika has paid an inspection on Monday (November 16th). In his visit Pastika met the persons in charge of Bali Festival Park Benny Tu and Widya. Built with an ivestment of 200 billion rupiah, Bali Park Festival has employed 400 employees during its operation. At the moment just to keep the site to remain sustained, 30 millions rupiah is spent every month by epploying 22 part-timers.

Bali Festival Park was built in cooperation between the government of Bali and PT Abdi Pwersada Nusantara. The license of land usage remains vald through 2017. Out of 8.98 hectares allocated land plot, 7 hectares have been used for amphitheatre, swiming pool, cultural park, crocodile park, and various amusement areas.

Operating for three years before completely closed down back in February 2000 for financial problem where income continuously failed to cover operating costs, the owner of PT Abdi Persada Nusantara has almost been successful to attract investors to save the park. Unfortunately Bali bomb has completely ruined the chance. “Actually there have been many investors interested. Unfortunately they have been all canceled after Bali bomb in 2002,” said Benny.

Now - almost eight years after it was closed - there are still no investors interested to put their money in. The remainders of Bali Festival Park are severely damaged buildings requiring thorough renovation and about 100 crocodiles. “The crocodiles are once a week. So far we have no problems in having all of them fed. Owner of PT Abdi Persada Nusantara cover the maintenance cost out of his personal pocket,” said Benny. Therefore he very much expected involvement of Bali government in taking care of the site and even brining it back into operation.

In response, Governor Pastika confirmed that he will find a solution right away. It is a waste to leave 9 hectares of premium beachfront land remains without giving any benefit. “For the next step, we will have to hold a meeting which involves the government, government owned enterprise, and the owner of PT Abdi Persada Nusantara to learn the situation thoroughly and elaborate possible solutions. We just can’t leave this site to remains as it is now,” said Pastika.

However Pastika could not tell the possible solutions yet. “It is just a preliminary oversee. It has to be a solution. But it is too early to take any decision now as everything needs to be thoroughly learnt and considered,” said Pastika.