The Regional People’s Representative Council of Bali (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah Bali or DPRD Bali) has ratified the Tourism Transportation Bylaw, which now requires drivers to have Balinese ID cards and operate motorised vehicles with DK plates only.
To be more precise, DPRD Bali has passed a Regional Regulation (Peraturan Daerah or Perda) concerning the Implementation of App-Based Tourism Rental Transportation Services in Bali. The Perda requires tourism drivers, including ride-sharing or online taxi drivers on the Island of the Gods, to hold a Balinese Identity Card (Kartu Tanda Penduduk Bali or KTP Bali). Furthermore, drivers are now required to use vehicles with DK plates only.
“Drivers with KTPs of Balinese addresses will be recruited, [the ones] using DK plates,” said I Nyoman Suyasa, Coordinating Chair of the Rancangan Peraturan Daerah (Raperda) Angkutan Sewa Khusus (ASK), during a plenary session of the DPRD Bali at the Bali Governor‘s Office in Denpasar on Tuesday, the 28th of October.
Moreover, Suyasa explained that this regulation requires ride-sharing or online taxi app providers to have legal entities to operate their businesses in Bali. These companies must also provide accident insurance for both passengers and drivers. The Perda also regulates competency standards specifically for tourism transport drivers. The council agreed on service standards based on Balinese cultural values as the foundation for quality tourism services.
“To ensure competency standards, tourism drivers must have knowledge of Balinese cultural tourism,” he continued.
Meanwhile, the Bali Provincial Government is also planning to issue new regulations in the form of a Governor’s Regulation (Peraturan Gubernur) to provide more detailed sanctions for ride-sharing or online taxi drivers who violate the new rules.
“Our principle is that when job opportunities arise, we can provide facilities for our own community. So, we will take this matter to the central government to determine how to maintain order among drivers, and the driver forum in Bali, so that this order can be implemented,” said the Deputy Governor of Bali, I Nyoman Giri Prasta.