BI Bali reaffirms rupiah-only rule for tourism transactions

Denpasar — — Bank Indonesia’s Bali representative office has reaffirmed that tourism transactions carried out in Indonesia must be settled in rupiah, under Bank Indonesia Regulation (PBI) No. 17/3/PBI/2015 on the obligation to use the national currency. The clarification, reported on 19–20 June 2026, confirms that transactions in Bali’s tourism sector are treated as domestic payments and therefore fall under Indonesia’s rupiah-use rules.

Deputy Head of the Bank Indonesia Bali office Ronald Dungdung Parluhutan said rupiah is the legal means of payment within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia and must be used for transactions in the tourism sector because it is not listed among the exemptions for international trade transactions. The obligation applies regardless of whether the customer is a foreign visitor or a resident, as long as the transaction takes place within Indonesian territory.

For hotels, restaurants, travel agents and other tourism businesses, the practical implication is that the payment for goods and services must be made in rupiah, whether in cash or through non-cash instruments such as cards or electronic transfers. Bank Indonesia’s Bali office linked the policy to supporting exchange-rate stability and safeguarding the sovereignty of the rupiah.

Regulation behind the requirement

PBI No. 17/3/PBI/2015 establishes a general obligation to use rupiah for cash and non-cash transactions conducted within Indonesia. The rule follows the territorial principle, meaning that every transaction carried out in Indonesia, by residents or non-residents, must use rupiah unless it falls within specific exemptions set out in law or regulation.

The regulation provides exemptions for certain international trade transactions, state budget operations and other activities explicitly allowed to use foreign currency under Indonesian law. Tourism-related payments, such as hotel stays, tours and restaurant bills, are not included in these exception lists, and Bank Indonesia’s Bali office has therefore stated that tourism transactions are subject to the rupiah-use obligation.

Bank Indonesia has also clarified in guidance documents that, to support effective implementation of the rupiah requirement, price listings for goods and services in Indonesia should be expressed in rupiah.

Price displays and industry concerns

Industry representatives in Bali have raised concerns about how tourism prices may be displayed while complying with the rupiah-use rules. Putu Winastra, chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali, has urged Bank Indonesia to allow tour-package prices to be listed in US dollars or other foreign currencies as reference figures on websites and marketing materials, with settlement still in rupiah at the prevailing exchange rate when the transaction occurs.

According to Winastra, tourism operators can face pressure when the US dollar strengthens while packages are sold and paid in rupiah, because many underlying costs in the tourism industry move with foreign currency or imported inputs. He also expressed concern that displaying prices in foreign currency on official websites could be seen by law enforcement as a violation of the rupiah-use rules and expose businesses to legal action.

The formal regulation and Bank Indonesia’s published guidance emphasize rupiah as both the payment currency and the unit for price displays, but do not yet provide detailed sector-specific rules for tourism on how reference pricing in foreign currencies should be handled.

Enforcement and practical implications

PBI No. 17/3/PBI/2015 sets administrative sanctions for violations of the rupiah-use obligation in non-cash transactions, including written warnings and fines calculated as a percentage of the transaction value, up to a stated maximum. The regulation and its implementing circular also require parties to provide data and information requested by Bank Indonesia and clarify that foreign-exchange dealers and the physical carriage of foreign banknotes in and out of Indonesia, in accordance with other laws, are not categorized as transactions that must use rupiah.

For visitors, the clarification means they can bring and exchange foreign currency, but when paying Indonesian tourism businesses they are expected to settle the final bill in rupiah, whether by cash or card. For businesses, it underlines the need to quote and charge final prices in rupiah, explain any foreign-currency reference figures as indicative only, and apply the relevant exchange rate at the time of payment when converting from foreign currency quotations into rupiah.

The discussion in Bali takes place against a backdrop of rupiah volatility in mid-2026 and rising policy interest rates, which have sharpened attention on how exchange-rate movements affect tourism pricing and profitability.

Sources

• bcasekuritas.co.id – BI Sebut Transaksi Pariwisata di Indonesia Wajib Gunakan Rupiah
• Expatlifeindonesia.com – Bank Indonesia Requires Rupiah for Domestic Tourism
• Datumbali.com – Money in Bali: why it has to be rupiah, and where to change it
• bi.go.id – Peraturan Bank Indonesia Nomor 17/3/PBI/2015
• Indonesianvacations.com – Bali Currency Guide: IDR, Cash, Cards & Money Tips
• AHP (Assegaf Hamzah & Partners) – Bank Indonesia Clarifies New Rupiah-Use Requirements
• Bank Indonesia circular – No. 17/11/DKSP
• peraturan.go.id – Peraturan BI No. 17/3/PBI/2015 Tahun 2015
• meridianhukum.com – Peraturan Bank Indonesia Nomor 17/3/PBI/2015 Tahun 2015
• bali.jpnn.com – Asita Bali Desak BI Beri Diskresi Cantumkan Harga Paket Wisata Memakai Dolar
• Tempo.co