Tourists staying at one of Bali’s top hotels are now able to use online taxi services like Grab and GoJek in Seminyak.
Management from Ramada Encore Seminyak Bali has held discussions with the traditional taxi providers in the area, and an agreement has been reached that benefits everyone, including tourists.
It has been an ongoing issue for years: tensions between local taxi drivers and online taxi drivers. The core of the issue is that many local taxi drivers feel that online taxi providers such as Grab, GoJek, and Uber are stealing business and undercutting prices.
Tourists, who are becoming increasingly reliant on online services in all aspects of life, have shown a clear preference for online taxi services due to the set prices, ease of booking, and range of safety features all offered by the apps.
These tensions have caused fierce debates in council meetings and even resulted in local taxi drivers and communities banning Grab, GoJek, and Uber in and around their ‘patch’.
In some cases, physical fights have even broken out, and local taxi drivers have attacked online drivers and blocked their entry to pick up tourists who have been waiting for their ride to arrive.
These kinds of scenarios have played out in destinations like Kuta, Sanur, Ubud, Canggu, and beyond.
In Seminyak this week, a huge new agreement was signed between Ramada Encore Seminyak Bali and the local taxi cooperative Padangsumbu Trans.
They have confirmed that hotel guests are now free to use online taxi services like Grab, GoJek, and Uber to pick up and drop off at the hotel and the surrounding area. In order to support and promote independent local taxi drivers, the hotel will be actively promoting its services to guests via flyers and other marketing materials.
Ramada Encore Seminyak Bali has said that since online taxi services are legitimate, legal business entities in Bali, the public has every right to use the apps to help them explore Bali. As an accommodation provider, the hotel is committed to ensuring tourists have a safe and comfortable stay on the island.
This landmark move between Ramada Encore Seminyak Bali and Padangsumbu Trans could be a sign that things are changing for the better in Bali’s leading tourism resorts.
While GoJek and Grab drivers operate widely around the island, and there are far fewer reports of hostilities against online taxi drivers these days, the tensions are still present, and there are still many areas where local community leaders have banned online taxi drivers from picking up and dropping off tourists.
In June 2023, the Bali Transportation Agency called for mutual cooperation between local community-managed taxi driving groups and online taxi drivers and app services.
Speaking to reporters following an attack on an online taxi driver and trusts, citing the Bali Governor Regulation Number 40 of 2019 concerning Application-Based Special Transport Vehicles, the Head of Bali Transportation Agency, I Wayan Gede Samsi Gunarta, shared his views on the situation.
Gunarta explained, “There is no prohibition for online motorcycle taxis to operate anywhere. That means if he (local motorcycle taxi) is official [legally registered], yes, he must work together with online motorcycle taxis [drivers] to be able to pick up passengers.”
At the time, Gunarta was clear that online taxi apps were legal but suggested that where possible, passengers should support local taxi drivers and the communities in which they are visiting.
The Indonesian National Tourism Board has often shared advice about traveling around Bali. In a social media post, Wonderful Indonesia prompted tourists to “opt for official taxis, reliable ride-sharing apps, or pre-arranged transportation through your accommodation, ensuring every ride is a seamless and secure experience.”
Grab and GoJek tend to be the go-to online taxi services used by tourists. In areas like Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Jimbaran, BlueBird taxis are another trusted brand for tourists.
These metered taxis can be hailed from the sidewalk or booked via the dedicated app.
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Harrison
Wednesday 1st of January 2025
Couple of years ago I was at Savaya.
I’m a bule, so could of course be a tourist. Out of interest at the end of the night I asked one of the local ‘taxi mafia’ how much back to Nirmala supermarket.
400k was the answer.
(The taxi from Nirmala to Savaya had cost 15k.)
…and how much to Seminyak please?
I can do that for 1 million, boss.
They wonder why everyone tries to use online taxis….
Chris Barrett
Wednesday 1st of January 2025
I have been to Bali 19 times, bought huge amounts of beach front land for when I retire to Bali , stay at the best resorts and spend a lot of money there to help promote the economy- esp during covid when resorts and streets were empty. But .. every single trip in those green Bali Taxis has ended up in an argument or in one case the greedy driver demanded twice the meter rate and drove onto kerb to threaten me after i exited his taxi despite me giving him more than metered total . Its time to protect tourists and end these rogue taxi drivers. I used Grab about 20 times on my last trip in August 2024 without any issues and Bluebird are and always will be my local go to taxis -to support “legitimate” older companies. I hate that the airport goes with those Bali Taxi robbers instead of Bluebird.
indopama
Monday 30th of December 2024
we need flying taxi and plastic bottles with beach colors
Lisa
Monday 30th of December 2024
Worst experience in Bali for us was coming out of airport and nearly being assaulted by local cab drivers. I almost got into physical altercation trying to keep my luggage at my side and not being carried away and loaded into a cab while waiting for our Grab ride to show up. Local cab drivers kept trying all kinds of imaginative scams to get us to go with them, e.g., one told us they were airport security and we had to use local cab as we were not allowed to wait, one said they were Grab staff and were telling us we needed to cancel our car as it broke down and go with them instead, one flashed an ID and said he was with airport and would load our luggage for free into waiting car, etc. It was a horrible experience to deal with these local cabbie types with luggage and young kids in tow in a new country after a long flight. I love Grab, the predictability of price, transit map, known driver, etc. Local cab drivers are the same the world over and unfortunately that means far too many will literally take you and your wallet for a ride that costs more than it should. Thankfully Grab, Uber, etc. restore fairness to these transactions. Now the Balinese government needs to step up and ensure the technology can be used wherever there is a willing customer and driver.
Exp
Monday 30th of December 2024
@Lisa, The airport management should read your story and act on this. This madness need to stop.
Martin
Monday 30th of December 2024
If local drivers matched grab prices they woulf get the 25% that grab drivers hsve to pay to grab.