DENPASAR ~

Chairman of Bali Taxi Driver Association (Persotab) Ketut Witra requested an evaluation and review by the provincial government about Trans Sarbagita bus that carried foreign tourists, while that public transport is subsidized from regional budget.

“We are wondering about the existence of that public transport which is subsidized by the government for local communities with rates for adult passengers Rp3,500 and Rp2,500 for student / college student. How about foreign tourists who also enjoy the subsidy,” he said in Denpasar on Friday.

According to him, there should be rules in tariff for foreign tourists or they are prohibited from using Trans Sarbagita.

“It would affect the cab, because foreign tourists who are traveling were charged at the local community rate,” he said.

He said that if this continues to be allowed, tourists who come to Bali will enjoy the subsidy.

Therefore, he said, the Bali provincial government should conduct an evaluation of Sarbagita.

“If foreign tourists are allowed to take Sarbagita in local rates, this will obviously affect the tourists who take a taxi. Moreover, I got the information there will be additional license for taxi operations and addition of new taxi in each of the operators,” he said.

In the current condition, said Witra, the competition for foreign passenger is tight enough, especially if the information is true about additional taxi licenses and taxi cars.

“If it is true, the competition is getting tougher to find passengers. The result of a survey that it is necessary to add taxis in Bali is not true. Where is the object of the survey? In southern part of Bali and Denpasar is certainly over supply,” Witra asserted.