Malaysian Tourists & QRIS Transactions in Riau Islands
Cross-Border QRIS Gains Traction: Malaysian Tourists Lead Inbound Transactions in Riau Islands
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The Riau Islands province of Indonesia is seeing a important surge in cross-border QRIS (Fast Response Code Indonesia Standard) usage, particularly from Malaysian tourists. This trend highlights the growing acceptance and convenience of QRIS for international travelers, eliminating the need for currency exchange and reducing transaction fees.
Malaysian Tourists Embrace QRIS in Riau Islands
Recent data from Bank Indonesia (BI) riau Islands reveals that 5,920 inbound QRIS transactions were made by Malaysian tourists between August 2023 and April 2025. This figure dramatically surpasses the 1,252 transactions recorded from Singaporean tourists during the same period, demonstrating a clear preference for QRIS among Malaysian visitors.
Rony, a representative from BI Riau Islands, emphasized that this growth signifies the increasing trust in cross-border QRIS, aligning with national trends and offering a seamless payment experience for tourists from neighboring countries.
“QRIS is no longer just a domestic issue,” Rony stated. “With cross-border QRIS, Malaysian and Singaporean tourists can make transactions directly in Batam or the Riau Islands without the hassle of exchanging currency or incurring additional fees.”
How Cross-Border QRIS Works for Tourists and Merchants
The beauty of cross-border QRIS lies in its simplicity. Tourists can pay directly in their local currency – whether Malaysian Ringgit or Singaporean Dollars – while merchants in the Riau Islands continue to receive payments in Indonesian Rupiah. This automatic currency conversion happens seamlessly in the background, removing any complexities for both parties.
This system offers several benefits:
Convenience: No need to search for money changers or carry large amounts of cash.
Cost Savings: Eliminates currency exchange fees and potential bank charges.
Security: Reduces the risk associated with carrying cash.
Ease of Use: A familiar payment method for many international travelers.BI Riau Islands is actively promoting the adoption of cross-border QRIS within the trade and tourism sectors, aiming to further boost cross-border transactions and economic activity. “Local merchants don’t need to worry, becuase payments are automatically converted directly to rupiah. This makes the process more practical and secure, for both merchants and tourists,” Rony explained.
Expanding QRIS Reach: Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore Lead the Way
The Riau Islands’ experience is part of a broader trend of increasing QRIS usage across Southeast Asia. Data from BI Riau Islands shows significant transaction volumes in several key countries:
Thailand: 852 transactions,totaling Rp45.45 million (approximately $2,880 USD). malaysia: 54,250 transactions, totaling Rp15.29 billion (approximately $970,000 USD).
* Singapore: 10,759 transactions,totaling Rp3.69 billion (approximately $234,000 USD).
Thes figures demonstrate the growing popularity of QRIS as a preferred payment method for tourists in these regions.
Future Expansion: Japan and China on the Horizon
Indonesia is continuing to expand the QRIS network, with plans to include Japan and China starting august 17, 2025. This expansion will further solidify QRIS as a leading cross-border payment solution, offering even greater convenience for travelers and boosting economic ties with key trading partners. The addition of these major economies promises to unlock even greater potential for cross-border transactions and tourism growth.