bali taxi driver

Viral Video Shows Tourist Being Extorted by Bali Taxi Driver, Forced to Pay IDR 400K from Seminyak to Kuta

Share:

Another incident of tourist extortion by a Bali taxi driver occurred on Saturday, 30th March 2024. The incident unfolded when a female tourist hailed a taxi from Red Ruby (Seminyak) to Kadesa (Kuta) at approximately 5 AM local time.

Upon reaching the destination, the Bali taxi driver demanded IDR 400,000 for the fare, citing the early morning hour of the ride. Despite the relatively short distance between the two areas, approximately 6.9 kilometres with a travel time of around 25 minutes, the driver insisted on the exorbitant fare.

Infuriated passengers, deeming the taxi fare exorbitant and feeling subjected to blackmail by the Bali taxi driver, swiftly shared their ordeal on social media. The video quickly gained traction, particularly among Balinese locals, who echoed their disapproval of the driver’s actions.

 


Following the video’s viral spread, the Bali Provincial Transportation Service promptly released a statement. They declared the taxi fleet depicted in the video as illegal due to the absence of official uniforms worn by the Bali taxi driver and the unauthorized use of vehicles belonging to the company in question.

I Nyoman Sudiartha, Chairman of the Bali Tourism Transport Association (Pawiba), expressed deep regret over the recurring issues between transport drivers and passengers. This persistent problem raises serious concerns, prompting Sudiartha to urge taxi operators to enhance operational standards within their respective companies.

This recent extortion incident by Bali taxi drivers is not an isolated case. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, with one particularly alarming case going viral in early January 2024, involving a foreign tourist who was threatened by an illegal taxi driver wielding a weapon. 

The proliferation of illegal taxis manned by drivers with questionable ethics has driven tourists to opt for more transparent options, such as online taxi services. There is a pressing need for the Bali government to implement stricter regulations governing these taxis to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Interested in this topic? Check out our other articles from Social Expat!

Content Writer

Yuriz absolutely loves content writing and exploring the nitty-gritty of various topics. It all started by chance, but writing quickly became an essential part of her life! Plus, she is a huge K-pop fan, jamming out to it all day, every day!

Related News

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto continued his visit to the UK after attending the G20 Brazil summit. During this visit, President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to hold a number of meetings. “Among them are meetings with King Charles III, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Deputy British Prime Minister Angela Rayner,” said an official release from […]

Fodor’s, an American travel guide publisher, has included Bali on its Fodor’s No List 2025, or Fodors’ List of 15 World Destinations Not Worth Visiting by 2025. Previously, in 2020, Fodors had included the island in the same list. In 2024, Fodors again included Bali as a destination that is not recommended to visit in […]

Nusa Dua, Bali – November, 2024 – Condé Nast Traveller today announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with Grand Hyatt Bali recognized as the #4 Best Resorts in Indonesia. More than 575,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the United States submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive […]

Chinese investors is injecting funds into the North Bali Airport development project in Kubutambahan District, Buleleng, Bali. This project is targeted to be completed in 2027 for one runway. PT BIBU Panji Sakti and ChangYe Construction Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on November 8, 2024, at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing. In this […]

Expat Property

Indonesia Visas

Expat Event

Business Networking
150,000
Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Kuningan, East Kuningan, Setiabudi, South Jakarta City, Jakarta
Business Networking
150,000
Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Sunset Road

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery