QRIS Headlines Cause Confusion
There are many media reports about the Bank Of Indonesia's QRIS program for tourists. There has has been no official government announcement and for now nothing much changes in terms of shops, restaurants, hotels, and other outlets accepting cash, credit cards, debit cards and other normal payment options.
In the past week, international and Indonesian media have run multiple stories about a new “cashless system” and a QR-based payment program being introduced for tourists in Bali. However, despite the headlines, there has been no official government announcement mandating any change and for now, visitors can continue paying exactly as they always have.
Bank Indonesia has been promoting its nationwide QRIS (QR Indonesian Standard) payment system for several years as part of a broader push to modernise transactions. Many outlets across Indonesia already use QRIS, and reports suggest BI plans to “enhance” onboarding for tourists, possibly via optional SIM-and-e-wallet packages.