Does anyone remember a time when it was not possible to pay by card for anything in Bali? It was cash or traveler’s cheques only. Oh, how times have changed.
Here at The Bali Sun, we are still convinced that cash is king in Bali, but as time moves on, more and more of the island’s leading attractions are shifting towards a cashless model.
Who’d have thought it? Bali’s most traditional village, Penglipuran Village in Bangli Regency, is spearheading the shift towards a cashless economy in Bali.
It’s hardly a surprise, though, while Penglipruan Village is incredibly traditional in many ways, not least that it is the only pedestrianised village left in Bali, the team who manage the tourism attraction side of the village have been pioneering sustainable tourism in Bali for years.
Penglipuran Village has been named amongst the UN World Tourism Organisation’s Best Tourism Villages in the World time and time again.
Speaking to reporters, the team at Penglipuran Village outlines how the transformation of Bali’s community-based and rural tourism sector is reaching a new level.
Wayan Sumiarsa, the Head of the Penglipuran Traditional Village, explained that by mid-2026, approximately 40% of tourist transactions across the attraction are cashless. This figure continues to show an upward trend as tourists become more comfortable using digital payment systems.
Trends show that more domestic and international tourists are opting for cashless payments. Sumiarsa shared, “Tourists can now use QRIS, debit cards, and credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. Currently, around 40 percent of transactions are cashless, and this continues to increase.”
Cashless is not just the aim for the tourism aspect of village life, but the whole community’s financial ecosystem.
Sumiarsa explained that digitalization in Penglipuran doesn’t stop at transactions for simple goods payments and ticketing.
This system is also being rolled out across the internal village governance, including payments to residents for incentives, village operations, and the distribution of economic benefits from the tourism sector.
He noted, “Going forward, we’re pushing for all systems to become cashless. This isn’t just about technology, but part of a transformation in the economic governance of tourist villages to become more modern and transparent.”
Penglipuran Village is a kind of pilot project for the transition to cashless across Bali, which is being initiated and supported by Bank Indonesia.
Gede Panca, the Public Relations Officer of Bank Indonesia Bali, explained that digitizing payment systems in tourist villages is part of a broader national strategy to expand financial inclusion, particularly for small businesses in the tourism sector.
He shared, “MSMEs in the tourism sector are the best entry point for expanding financial inclusion. With QRIS and other digital systems, transactions are easier, faster, and more secure.”
Tourists visiting Bali in the coming weeks can come and see for themselves how changes at Penglipuran Village are helping bring the community into the 21st Century, while also staying true to their traditional tools. From 9–11th July, 2026, Penglipuran Tourism Village will host the 13th Penglipuran Village Festival.
This year’s festival’s theme is “Harmony of Penglipuran: Towards Inclusive, Sustainable, and Regenerative Tourism.” The community is aiming to promote the message that the future of tourism must preserve traditions, care for the environment, strengthen the local economy, enrich the tourist experience, and leave a better village for future generations.
Penglipuran Village is open to visitors 7 days a week, from 8 am to 6.30 pm. Entry for adult international tourists is IDR 50,000, and for children, IDR 30,000.
Here at The Bali Sun, we always recommend visitors to arrive super early to avoid the crowds, or time a visit for later in the afternoon, when the bus tours have headed home.
It rarely feels too busy at Penglipuran Village, but it is a touch more magical to experience the community at quieter times. Be sure to take the time to visit the Bamboo Forest too, access is included in the entry fee, but so many people don’t make the most of it!
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