Bali Taxi Business Declines

(6/14/2010)

Bisnis Indonesia says that PT Praja Bali Transportasi – Bali Tax, who operate under the Blue Bird branding in Bali, is suffering a 40% decline in revenues following recent attacks on their fleet by competing taxi drivers operating under the Tourism Transportation Association (Paguyuban Jasa Wisata Bali – PJWB).

In those attacks, twenty-three Blue Bird taxis were damaged and two members of the press suffered damage to their cameras. Subsequently police have made several arrests among PJWB members and civil charges are pending against PJWB filed by PT Praja Bali Transportasi.

According to a spokesman for Bali Taxi, Nyoman Mertadi, "many hotels and corporate partners have temporarily stopped cooperation, awaiting a more conducive situation." Mertadi estimates the cost of the damage done to the 23 damaged taxis at more than Rp. 100 million (US$10.640) with 43 drivers forced to be deployed to the remaining fleet.

Mertadi warned that the attack on the Blue Bird fleet may prove self-defeating, with many people calling him to explain their fear and reluctance to ride in any taxi in Bali at the moment.

Teguh Wijayanto, the spokesman for the entire Blue Bird Group added the warning that if the current situation is left unaddressed the reputation of Bali may be damaged as a result. "We await definite steps by both the government and law enforcement to soon settle this case," demanded Wijayanto.