BTN Targets Holiday Economy as Tourist Transactions Become New Market for Bank

Holiday activities are increasingly being eyed as a new source of growth for the banking industry. PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk, or BTN, is now targeting tourist transactions through a digital payment collaboration with PT Mitra Kasih Perkasa (MKP), the operator of several ports and tourist destinations in Bali.

BTN President Director Nixon LP Napitupulu stated that changing societal habits, with greater reliance on digital transactions, make the tourism sector a potential market for banking. According to him, tourism activities involve high transaction volumes because tourists require quick and practical payments during their travels.

“Tourists certainly want fast transactions without long queues,” said Nixon during the signing of the BTN and MKP collaboration in Jakarta on Monday (11/5/2026).

Through this collaboration, BTN will integrate payment and ticket purchase services for tourism via the Bale by BTN app. The system will be implemented at several tourist spots and ports in Bali, such as Sanur, Serangan, Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, and Penglipuran Tourist Village.

BTN views the tourism sector as a new business opportunity amid the rising use of non-cash payments in society. BTN assesses that tourism transaction growth will continue to increase in line with rising societal mobility and the trend of digital payments during holidays.