“We see the culinary sector as highly strategic. As more culinary merchants adopt QRIS, transaction efficiency improves, business revenues grow, financial inclusion expands, and ultimately this contributes directly to regional economic growth as a whole,” Rony added.
Beyond expanding the digital payment ecosystem, QRIS Jelajah Indonesia is also designed to strengthen policy synergy in implementing Indonesia’s national digital economy and finance agenda between regional governments, ministries, financial institutions, business associations, entrepreneurial communities, and the general public.
Bank Indonesia has also placed public education as one of the core agendas of the program. Digital literacy is considered essential to ensure people better understand the benefits of digital financial instruments, ranging from QRIS, BI-FAST, Indonesia Credit Card (KKI), to various other digital services.
On the other hand, Bank Indonesia sees strong connections between the culinary sector and the development of Indonesia’s tourism industry.
Based on data presented during QRIS Jelajah Indonesia 2026, 23.8 percent of tourist spending is allocated to culinary purchases, with average spending reaching approximately USD 243.38 per tourist visit.
The culinary sector also plays a major role in national employment, currently absorbing 19.48 million workers, equivalent to approximately 13.47 percent of Indonesia’s total workforce.
In addition, around 93.51 percent of food and beverage businesses in Indonesia still serve local traditional menus, highlighting the sector’s enormous domestic economic potential that can continue to grow through digitalization.
Rony emphasized that QRIS Jelajah Indonesia carries strategic value far beyond simply increasing digital payment transactions. The program is also designed to strengthen regional tourism attractiveness, increase exposure for local culinary products, and stimulate region-based creative economies.
“In regions such as Riau Islands, digitalization has become an essential element in strengthening local economic competitiveness. When tourism, culinary businesses, MSMEs, and digital payment systems are integrated into one ecosystem, we create more sustainable economic growth that directly benefits society,” he explained.
