In a bid to prioritize the safety and well-being of tourists, particularly women and children, Grab, the leading online taxi service in Southeast Asia, has launched a set of innovative safety features in Bali. The initiative, known as the Grab Security and Safety Center, was launched in a ceremony in Badung Regency this week, drawing praise from Indonesia’s Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, I Gusti Ayu Bintang Dharmawati.

Minister Dharmawati commended Grab for its dedication to enhancing security measures for tourists, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives, especially when it comes to public transportation in popular tourist destinations like Bali. She expressed her gratitude, stating that Grab's efforts represent an "extraordinary breakthrough in providing security protection and comfort to tourists."

The newly introduced Grab Security and Safety Center feature will be accessible through the Grab app for users in Bali. The page includes emergency contact numbers, a list of local police stations, nearby hospitals, a dedicated hotline for sexual violence, and details of embassies on the island. Crucially, this information is available in English, Bahasa Indonesia, and Mandarin, catering to the diverse range of visitors to Bali.

Tourists can access the information through the Grab app, QR codes on promotional materials scattered around the island, or by visiting the Grab website. Minister Dharmawati highlighted the timeliness of this feature, given the approaching Christmas holidays and the anticipation of increased tourism during this period. She expressed hope that other transportation services would take inspiration from Grab's initiative.

Neneng Goenadi, Grab Indonesia Country Managing Director, emphasized that the effort is part of Grab's contribution to maintaining Bali's positive tourism image. She stated, "Hopefully, the presence of this page will make it easier for travelers who come. Maybe this looks simple for those who already live in Bali, but this will help tourists."

The safety features integrated into Grab's services include advanced measures such as driver and delivery partner facial recognition. This requires drivers and partners to authenticate their identification using the app’s facial recognition technology at least once a day, ensuring the use of registered driver accounts only.

A 24/7 Safety Center allows passengers to report concerns to a dedicated operative, while trip monitoring continuously assesses the passenger’s ride to detect unsafe scenarios, sending alert notifications when necessary. Grab reassures consumers that safety is a top priority, and these features contribute to making it the safest ride-hailing service in Southeast Asia.

Despite the positive strides in enhancing safety, tensions persist between local private taxi drivers and ride-hailing services like Grab. Certain busy areas in popular resorts have displayed signs prohibiting Grab and GoJek services, reflecting ongoing challenges within the industry. Nevertheless, government leaders have consistently affirmed tourists' right to use these services, offering a reliable and secure means of transportation throughout Bali, including pick-up and drop-off at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.