Indonesia is testing new QRIS connections with Saudi Arabia and India to capitalise on Bali’s tourism rebound, amid surging cross-border transactions and expanding international adoption of its digital payment system.
Indonesia is widening its cross-border QR payment network as Bali’s tourism rebound gives the system fresh momentum, with Bank Indonesia saying it is testing Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard, or QRIS, connections with Saudi Arabia and India. The central bank already has live links with Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China, and says the next phase is designed to make spending easier for overseas visitors and Indonesian travellers abroad.
Achris Sarwani, head of Bank Indonesia’s Bali representative office, said the two trial markets are especially important because Saudi Arabia is a major destination for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims and India has become one of Bali’s fastest-growing visitor sources. He said Indian arrivals are increasing, while Bali’s direct air links with both India and Saudi Arabia are also helping support travel flows.
The push comes as the payment system is becoming more widely used on the island. Bank Indonesia’s Bali office said cross-border QRIS transactions in Bali reached Rp36 billion, or about $1.9 million, in 2025, up 229% from Rp10.9 billion in 2024. The number of transactions climbed 224% to 148,717 over the same period, while more than 1.1 million businesses in Bali now accept QRIS and the number of users has topped 1.15 million.
Separate reporting cited by Indonesian outlets suggests the system’s international use is expanding well beyond Bali. Bank Indonesia reported a net inbound transaction surplus of Rp1.52 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, reflecting heavier use by foreign tourists in Indonesia. Those reports said the central bank is also discussing further QRIS expansion to Hong Kong, alongside Saudi Arabia and India.
The broader tourism backdrop is mixed. Statistics Indonesia’s Bali office said the island received 3.2 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, down 2.82% from a year earlier. Australia remained the largest source market with 802,000 arrivals, followed by China with 285,000 and India with 278,000, underlining why Bali is becoming a key testing ground for Indonesia’s digital payments push.
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