Tourists Call For Bali Taxi Fares To Be Priced More Reasonably 

Share The Article

Among Bali lovers, the discussion around what is and isn’t a fair rate to pay for an airport taxi is a never-ending conversation.

The topic can be quite contentious, earlier this year a local taxi driver raged a couple from using an online taxi service provider after they felt they were about to be ripped off.

The discussion around what is and isn’t a fair rate is widely chatted about online by both domestic and international tourists.

Recently, complaints have been noted online about the rising cost of airport taxis. Travelers have also complained about the lack of easy-to-navigate public transport options from the airport through to the popular resort destinations. 

@jackthebackpacker Check out this little tip to save money on your airport taxi in bali! #bali #airport #taxi ♬ original sound – Jackthebackpacker

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is busy and it’s not slowing down. The General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Handy Heryudhitiawan said, currently on average in one day, the international airport serves 65,000 passengers from around 400 aircraft. This is an issue that is affecting hundreds of thousands of travelers every month.

Travelers have to take to social media to discuss their concerns abut airport taxi fares in Bali. Eka Mustikasari was quoted by the youth account IndoZone, saying “I was planning to go to Bali alone, as soon as I opened this (Grab Car application) my backpacker soul was struggling.”

Adding “it’s also expensive from the airport to Denpasar.” Typically Grab and GoJek car rates are cheaper than the private local taxi drivers or other metered providers like Blue Bird.

@travel_slam Touring the greatest airport I've ever seen in #bali #denpasar #indonesia #airport •⠀ • • • #baliindonesia #baliairport #hindi #hindu #hinduculture #statue #artwork #crafts #deity #foodvlog #balitour #adventure #beautifulbali #balilife #vlogger #positivity #goodvibes #fyp #foryou #asia #vlog #asiavlog ♬ Balinese Traditional Music Listen to Rindik Bali While Enjoying a Cup of Coffee (Acoustic) – Miracle777 Music

Another social media user who remained anonymous noted that if Indonesia doesn’t keep up with its South East Asian neighbors in terms of transportation infrastructure and the cost to tourists, they will start looking elsewhere.

They wrote “Come on, let’s reorganize Indonesia’s tourism so that it is more tourist friendly. Vietnam is still superior to Indonesia, we are being overtaken by Vietnam. Many tourists go there because it is cheaper, more cultural, and more relaxed.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bali Tourism Board (@balitourismboardofficial)

Yet, leaders are still concerned that in a post-pandemic economy, all of the tourism sector must be pricing services to help boost economic growth.

The Head of the Bali Office of the Bank of Indonesia, Erwin Soeridaimadja, recently told the media “The current condition of Bali tourism can be said to have recovered close to before the COVID-19 pandemic with the estimated number of foreign tourists alone at the end of 2023 reaching 5.25 million from 2.16 million foreign tourists in 2022, so it is very significant.”

So with Bali now in the clear, can rates start to even out? Even with the consideration that Bali is a leading tourist destination, the taxi fares from the airport are steep.

Mustikasari says she was quoted IDR 109,000 for the 4.2km journey from the domestic arrivals terminal to the Beachwalk Mall in Kuta.

For many international tourists, this is still affordable, but compared to Indonesia-wide taxis, it is pricey.

This issue isn’t something that airport officials, the government, and transport providers are just glossing over.

In October the Bali Provincial Government announced a new tourist taxi consortium that will help to standardize all tourist transport around the island.

The government wants to establish a gold standard for tourist transportation, including fares and rates, the quality of vehicles, and the skills of drivers. 

The new taxi consortium will work with technology partners to level up the services on offer to tourists when it comes to transport.

Together, they want to ensure the free market does not become a free-for-all all in such a way that causes a negative experience for tourists.

They will create a Silver, Gold, and Platinum level auditing system that makes it easier than ever for tourists to get the taxi service they require and within budget.