Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Bali – From worsening traffic in Canggu to rising concerns over overtourism, Bali is facing growing questions about whether the island's current development model is still sustainable.
Nuanu Creative City is positioning itself as part of a different approach to Bali development, one that emphasizes public space, walkability, and long-term sustainability amid growing debate over the island's future.
The 44-hectare project on Bali's southwest coast recently opened Nuanu Park, a 1.6-hectare green space featuring walking paths, playgrounds, workshops, and cultural programming.
But the broader conversation surrounding the project reflects a larger question facing Bali itself: how much more development can the island absorb without losing the cultural and environmental character that made it attractive in the first place.
"I think one of the biggest mistakes is when development focuses only on short-term commercial value without considering long-term impact on community, infrastructure, culture, and the environment," said Lev Kroll, CEO of Nuanu Creative City.
"Bali is not just a tourism product, it's a living cultural ecosystem with a very unique identity that has taken generations to shape," he added.
Bali has experienced rapid tourism-driven growth over the past decade, particularly in areas such as Canggu and Uluwatu, where infrastructure pressure, rising traffic congestion, and declining public space have increasingly become part of local discussions surrounding overtourism.
Kroll said many projects across the island are still built with limited consideration for mobility, waste management, water systems, and communal infrastructure.
"In the long run, that creates fragmentation rather than meaningful growth," he said. "A destination should contribute to the place it exists in, not extract from it."
He described Bali as being at a "turning point" as tourism expansion continues accelerating.
"The island's appeal has always come from the balance between nature, spirituality, creativity, culture, and community life," Kroll said. "If that balance is lost, Bali risks becoming just another overcrowded global destination."
While acknowledging the economic importance of tourism growth, Kroll argued the issue is no longer about whether Bali should continue developing, but how.
"The question is what kind of growth Bali wants to pursue moving forward," he said. "There is still a huge opportunity for Bali to evolve in a way that is more regenerative, culturally respectful, and future-oriented."
Part of Nuanu's response has been to focus heavily on public infrastructure during its first development phase between 2020 and 2025, including roads, pedestrian access, drainage systems, and communal spaces.
The company says around 70% of its land area is allocated to green space, while Nuanu Park was designed as an open public area where people can walk, gather, or spend time outdoors without necessarily engaging in commercial activity.
"We recognize that accessible public green spaces are becoming increasingly limited, not only in Bali but in many growing urban areas," said Ida Ayu Astari Prada.
"At the same time, we feel people need those spaces more than ever – places where families, friends, pets, and communities can slow down, gather, and reconnect with nature and with one another," she said.
Prada said the project also adopted a "15-minute walkable city" concept aimed at reducing dependency on vehicles within the development area.
The company additionally integrates community and social initiatives through the Nuanu Social Fund, which receives contributions from businesses operating within the project.
Prada said that the fund distributed more than Rp 5 billion in impact contributions in 2025, with around 62.9% allocated toward arts and culture initiatives, reaching roughly 14,000 beneficiaries.
"In many cases, CSR is still viewed as something separate from the core business," Prada said. "At Nuanu, we are trying to integrate those values directly into the ecosystem itself and into the daily operational practices of the development."
Still, the larger debate over Bali's future extends beyond any single project. As tourism investment continues flowing into the island, pressure is mounting on both developers and policymakers to address infrastructure strain, environmental sustainability, and the long-term impact of rapid commercial expansion.
"If growth continues without enough consideration for sustainability, infrastructure, ecology, and cultural preservation, future generations may inherit an island that struggles with congestion, environmental pressure, and the loss of identity that made Bali special in the first place," Kroll said.