Both Balipost.com and Tribun-Bali.com are reporting that Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has made a controversial proclamation only to allow drivers who hold a Bali Identity Card (KTP Bali) to work on tourism vehicles displaying local “DK” license plates.
Pulling no punches, Governor Koster says he will strictly enforce with an equal degree of vigor and ferocity the closure of unlicensed holiday villas and banning non-Balinese (as defined by KTPs) from working as tourism drivers.
“I will firmly and firmly stop various violations of unlicensed villas, vehicles operating in Bali transporting tourists with plates outside Bali must use Bali license plates or DK, drivers must have Indonesian ID cards with Balinese addresses,” Koster said on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.
Koster continued, saying he would enforce these rules to protect local Balinese business people and other workers because local Balinese workers’ land has been invaded and infiltrated from everywhere, making it increasingly difficult (for locals) to earn income.
Crackdown to Start in Late March
“As the Provincial Head of Bali, I must protect the Balinese people. Meanwhile, we fail to discipline naughty tourists on the road who do not wear helmets, only wear t-shirts, violate traffic rules, and fight the police. This is not right! I will immediately deport them. Those who violate the law will be processed legally and with all due process so that everything is orderly. I will do it firmly starting next week,” the Governor warned.
According to Koster, the action against misbehaving tourists is regulated in his Regulations concerning the management of quality-based tourism.
“A circular will be ratified and made public on 21 March 2025. Those not behaving in an orderly manner will be subject to enforcement. Firm and strict action will soon be taken,” said Koster.
The chairman of the Land Transportation Association (ORGANDA), Nyoman Arthaya Sena, said the new rules on public transportation are apparent. Adding: “We need to pay attention to this so that we don’t get caught after making regulations that turn out that the regulations are in place and complete but are not enforced. So we need to be more careful and patient,” explained Sena.
Sena said all the rules must be clearly stated and obeyed governing taxis, rented transportation, special forms of transportation, and all modes of tourism transportation.
ORGANDA proposes that there should be no dichotomy in the KTP issue – that personal identity does not need to be debated. We are discussing how to regulate workers in Bali to be competent in their fields of work that is in accordance with the regulations and must understand Balinese culture and incorporate local Balinese wisdom,” Sena explained.
Sena compared the situation and circumstances of tourism drivers to that of hotel workers who must now hold certificates of professional competency.
Sena continued, questioning why drivers are not required to have certificated competency beyond their standard driver’s license issued by the police. He thinks drivers should also have documentation showing their competency in cultural and local area knowledge matters.
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