Rupiah Weakens to Rp18,087 Per US Dollar, ASITA Bali Weighs Impact on Tourism Sector

According to BaliNews, the Indonesian rupiah weakened to Rp18,087.99 per US dollar in trading on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The depreciation was attributed to rising global oil prices, higher US Treasury yields, global inflation concerns, and increased dollar demand from importers ahead of the end of the third quarter.

The exchange-rate shift is drawing attention from Bali's tourism industry, which involves significant foreign-currency transactions and international visitors. For foreign tourists carrying US dollars, the weaker rupiah means more rupiah per dollar when exchanging money. The change also affects tourism businesses that price products in foreign currencies.

I Putu Winastra, chairman of ASITA Bali, said the stronger dollar has both positive and negative implications for the tourism sector. With the dollar reaching around Rp18,100 and Bank Indonesia's selling rate at Rp17,908.01, tourism products sold overseas in US dollars could generate higher rupiah revenues. Products priced in rupiah may also appear cheaper to foreign customers when converted to dollars — though Winastra stressed this does not reflect lower quality.

However, he cautioned that a stronger dollar does not necessarily mean higher profits, since it also raises operational costs and the price of materials used in tourism products. As a result, the net impact on businesses could be roughly balanced.

ASITA Bali is calling for greater currency stability to give tourism businesses more certainty in pricing, investment, and operations. The association also hopes for policies allowing businesses to promote products abroad in US dollars or euros while settling actual transactions in rupiah.