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.