Tourists traveling to Bali will invariably need a taxi or private driver. The taxi and transportation sector in Bali has faced a series of issues over the last ten years.
With the widespread adoption of online taxi apps like Grab and GoJek, many local taxi drivers have felt pushed out of the market, creating issues for both drivers and tourists.
Right before the pandemic, it felt like the tensions between local taxi drivers and online taxi drivers in Bali were reaching fever pitch.
Groups of local taxi drivers have created no-go zones for online taxi drivers, and there were even dozens of reports of local drivers becoming aggressive and, in some cases, violent with both tourists and online taxi drivers who came onto their patch.
Local taxi drivers have been frustrated that online taxi services have flooded the market, pushed prices down, and that there has been an influx of drivers from outside the province moving to Bali to earn a living through driving via the apps.
For tourists, however, there has been an understandable increase in preference for the online apps. Not only does it mitigate any language barrier, but the set fares and rates help avoid any disagreements later down the line, as well as safety features and widespread and immediate availability.
Back in January 2025, the Bali Tourism Driver Struggle Forum (FPDP) marched in protest to the Regional People’s Representative Council of Bali (Bali DPRD), which is the office of the provincial government, to make six very specific demands.
Top demands included putting a quota on the number of online taxi service providers allowed to be registered in the province, for both motorcycle and car taxis. The drivers also demanded that the provincial government create a standardized set of rates for taxis across the board, as well as to restrict taxi companies, enabling them to only hire drivers with Balinese ID cards.
The protests were effective, and following meetings, it was concluded that existing legislation already in place to protect local taxi drivers needed to be implemented more strictly alongside the introduction of a series of new industry standards.
This week, Bali Governor Wayan Koster has met with the Bali Transport Bersatu, one of the taxi driver associations in Bali, to discuss the implementation of these policies that were set support local taxi drivers and help regulate the sector in a way that creates benefits for both drivers, tourists, and local people who use taxi services.
The Chairman of the Bali Transport Bersatu told reporters, “We fully support the implementation of the Bali Governor’s Regulation governing both base and conventional taxi drivers. However, we still face many obstacles in its implementation.” Adding “Certification and standardization are also underway. We request support regarding transportation quotas and BPJS Employment facilitation for drivers.”
Governor Koster told the drivers, “[I will] immediately make a quota agreement in the form of a certificate. For BPJS Employment, I will help facilitate and expedite the process. Because this concerns the people’s economy, we must help quickly and not make things difficult.”
He also called for better management of taxi ranks in villages. Governor Koster wants to see the organisation of taxi ranks in top tourism destinations prioritise local drivers, and that a central registration system for all drivers, including those who only work via the apps, is deemed to be the solution.
Governor Koster explained, “Prioritize local residents at the base. Registration will be conducted through the traditional village to ensure order and data collection, including app-based transportation.”
Tourists traveling to Bali may not immediately notice much difference in how they interact with the taxi system, but over the coming months, further changes may take effect.
For those returning to Bali on vacation, there may be changes since the last visit in how pickup works at certain taxi ranks, including at Bali Airport and other transportation options. Tourists are reminded that online taxi apps are legal in Bali and can be used throughout the island.
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