Does anyone remember a time when it was not possible to pay by card\nfor anything in Bali? It was cash or traveler\u2019s cheques only. Oh, how\ntimes have changed.<\/p>\n
Here at The Bali Sun, we are still convinced that cash is king in\nBali, but as time moves on, more and more of the island\u2019s leading\nattractions are shifting towards a cashless model.<\/p>\n
Who\u2019d have thought it? Bali\u2019s most traditional village, Penglipuran\nVillage in Bangli Regency, is spearheading the shift towards a cashless\neconomy in Bali.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hardly a surprise, though, while Penglipruan Village is\nincredibly traditional in many ways, not least that it is the only\npedestrianised village left in Bali, the team who manage the tourism\nattraction side of the village have been pioneering sustainable tourism\nin Bali for years.<\/p>\n
Penglipuran Village has been named amongst the UN World Tourism\nOrganisation\u2019s Best Tourism Villages in the World time and time\nagain.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters, the team at Penglipuran Village outlines how\nthe transformation of Bali\u2019s community-based and rural tourism sector is\nreaching a new level.<\/p>\n
Wayan Sumiarsa, the Head of the Penglipuran Traditional Village,\nexplained that by mid-2026, approximately 40% of tourist transactions\nacross the attraction are cashless. This figure continues to show an\nupward trend as tourists become more comfortable using digital payment\nsystems.<\/p>\n
Trends show that more domestic and international tourists are opting\nfor cashless payments. Sumiarsa shared, \u201cTourists can now use QRIS,\ndebit cards, and credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. Currently,\naround 40 percent of transactions are cashless, and this continues to\nincrease.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cashless is not just the aim for the tourism aspect of village life,\nbut the whole community\u2019s financial ecosystem.<\/p>\n
Sumiarsa explained that digitalization in Penglipuran doesn\u2019t stop at\ntransactions for simple goods payments and ticketing.<\/p>\n
This system is also being rolled out across the internal village\ngovernance, including payments to residents for incentives, village\noperations, and the distribution of economic benefits from the tourism\nsector.<\/p>\n
He noted, \u201cGoing forward, we\u2019re pushing for all systems to become\ncashless. This isn\u2019t just about technology, but part of a transformation\nin the economic governance of tourist villages to become more modern and\ntransparent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penglipuran Village is a kind of pilot project for the transition to\ncashless across Bali, which is being initiated and supported by Bank\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Gede Panca, the Public Relations Officer of Bank Indonesia Bali,\nexplained that digitizing payment systems in tourist villages is part of\na broader national strategy to expand financial inclusion, particularly\nfor small businesses in the tourism sector.<\/p>\n
He shared, \u201cMSMEs in the tourism sector are the best entry point for\nexpanding financial inclusion. With QRIS and other digital systems,\ntransactions are easier, faster, and more secure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tourists visiting Bali in the coming weeks can come and see for\nthemselves how changes at Penglipuran Village are helping bring the\ncommunity into the 21st Century, while also staying true to their\ntraditional tools. From 9\u201311th July, 2026, Penglipuran Tourism Village\nwill host the 13th Penglipuran Village Festival.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s festival\u2019s theme is \u201cHarmony of Penglipuran: Towards\nInclusive, Sustainable, and Regenerative Tourism.\u201d The community is\naiming to promote the message that the future of tourism must preserve\ntraditions, care for the environment, strengthen the local economy,\nenrich the tourist experience, and leave a better village for future\ngenerations.<\/p>\n
Penglipuran Village is open to visitors 7 days a week, from 8 am to\n6.30 pm. Entry for adult international tourists is IDR 50,000, and for\nchildren, IDR 30,000.<\/p>\n
Here at The Bali Sun, we always recommend visitors to arrive super\nearly to avoid the crowds, or time a visit for later in the afternoon,\nwhen the bus tours have headed home.<\/p>\n
It rarely feels too busy at Penglipuran Village, but it is a touch\nmore magical to experience the community at quieter times. Be sure to\ntake the time to visit the Bamboo Forest too, access is included in the\nentry fee, but so many people don\u2019t make the most of it!<\/p>\n
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