Major Developments Unveiled for Controversial Bali Theme Park in Jembrana Regency
October 22, 2025 – Bali, Indonesia
Significant new updates have come to light regarding the Kerthi Bali Semesta Park Project, Bali’s largest theme park development planned for the island’s emerging tourism hub in Jembrana Regency. Often referred to locally as “Disneylandnya” due to its scale and ambition, the project had largely remained under the radar since initial announcements in 2023. However, with the local government now fully settled into its new administration term, attention has sharply refocused on this ambitious initiative.
A Transformative Project for Jembrana
Jembrana Regency has traditionally been one of Bali’s least developed areas in terms of infrastructure and tourist activity. Yet, this is set to change with the upcoming development of the Kerthi Bali Semesta Park. This expansive theme park is a collaborative effort between Paramount Pictures (Paramount Global) and the Indonesian company PT Kios Ria Kreas (KIOS).
The theme park is envisioned to operate similarly to Universal Studios Singapore, featuring themed entertainment zones based on popular characters from the Paramount film universe. Visitors can expect attractions including Nickelodeon icons like SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Beyond the theme park itself, the project will include a sports academy, a golf course, and two hotels along with residential apartments, making it a comprehensive entertainment and lifestyle destination.
Scale and Ambition: A Regional Game-Changer
Official confirmation has revealed the main park area will cover an impressive 57 hectares within a larger complex spanning 1,200 hectares. This scope will position Kerthi Bali Semesta Park as the largest theme park in Southeast Asia, surpassing the current largest, Vietnam’s Sun World Ha Long Park, which covers approximately 214 hectares.
In 2023, the then Jembrana Regent Nengah Tamba expressed optimism, noting that the IDR 14 trillion investment could act as a major catalyst for local tourism and economic development. Since then, however, project details were sparse, fueling anticipation and scrutiny among locals and industry observers.
Critical Infrastructure: Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road
The success and accessibility of the park heavily depend on the construction of the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road, a 96.8-kilometer highway designed to enhance connectivity across Bali’s western region. The current Regent of Jembrana, Kembang Hartawan, has emphasized integrating this toll road with the area’s existing logistics infrastructure—specifically linking it to the Pengambengan Nusantara Fisheries Port and Gilimanuk Logistics Port, both part of a special economic zone aimed at boosting trade.
Regent Hartawan highlighted the importance of the toll road in alleviating traffic congestion and reducing accidents on the Denpasar-Gilimanuk national road, known for its hazardous conditions. By redirecting logistics and commercial traffic through the new toll road, not only is traffic flow expected to improve, but safer travel for both residents and tourists will be assured.
Economic and Tourism Impact
With Jembrana acting as the gateway to Bali from Java, improving transportation infrastructure is crucial for the region’s development. The new toll road will cut travel times between Denpasar and Gilimanuk to approximately two hours, making Jembrana and the Kerthi Bali Semesta Park more accessible to travelers.
This multibillion-dollar project underscores Bali’s broader strategy to diversify tourism offerings beyond its traditional southern hotspots such as Kuta and Ubud. By cultivating Jembrana as a new tourism destination, local officials hope to stimulate regional economic growth, job creation, and a diversified tourism economy.
As the project moves forward, details regarding construction timelines, investment partners, and park operations are eagerly awaited by local communities, investors, and tourism stakeholders. If realized as planned, the Kerthi Bali Semesta Park, along with the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road, could redefine Bali’s tourism map and mark a transformational chapter for the island’s evolving tourism landscape.
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