Imagine this situation: an Australian tourist is vacationing in Bali and stops by a mall in the Kuta or Seminyak area. They are interested in trying the photobooth displayed in the lobby. They are ready to pay, but when they are directed to scan a QRIS code, they realize they don't have an Indonesian e-wallet or mobile banking app linked to that system. The credit card in their wallet can't be used because the machine only accepts QRIS. In the end, they give up and walk away.
Scenarios like this are not unusual in destinations crowded with international tourists: Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu), Lombok (Gili Trawangan, Senggigi, Mandalika), Yogyakarta (Malioboro, the Borobudur area), and even Labuan Bajo. In these locations, the share of foreign visitors can be much higher than in regular malls in other cities, and most of them have no access to QRIS because this system was designed for the domestic payment ecosystem.
For venue operators, this means potential transactions are lost, not because visitors aren't interested, but because there is no payment channel they can use.
The Solution: Card Payment (Visa / Mastercard / JCB / AMEX) via QR Code
GoPoto introduces an alternative payment method that allows visitors to pay for their photo session using international credit or debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Card.
The process is simple:
- Visitors scan the QR code at the booth. Visitors who don't have a QRIS app simply point their smartphone camera at the QR code on the sticker on the photobooth unit. No additional app installation is needed, because this QR code can be read directly by the phone's built-in camera.
- The QR code opens the payment page. After scanning, the QR code opens a payment page in the visitor's phone browser, complete with options to pay with international credit or debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express.
- Visitors enter their card details on their own phone. Visitors type in the card number, expiry date, and security code directly on that page. This entire process is handled by the payment gateway, not by the GoPoto system, so card details are never stored or pass through GoPoto's servers. Each payment session is also single-use, which keeps it safe from misuse.
- The system displays a barcode and voucher code after successful payment. Once the payment gateway confirms the transaction as successful, the page on the visitor's phone displays a barcode and a voucher code as valid proof of payment for one photo session.
- The barcode is scanned, and the photo session opens. Visitors simply point the barcode on their phone screen at the reader installed near the booth screen, or enter the voucher code manually if needed. Once verified, the system automatically opens the photo session and visitors are ready to take photos as usual.
With this flow, the entire payment process (from scan to verification) takes place on the visitor's own phone, without needing to touch a shared device at the booth and without entering card data into any GoPoto system. In this way, foreign tourists like those in the scenario above don't have to turn away. They simply scan, pay with the card they brought from their home country, and enjoy their photo session right away.
Not a Replacement, but a Complement
To be clear, this card payment via QR code method does not replace existing payment systems. QRIS and vouchers continue to run as usual. All three (QRIS, vouchers, and card payment via QR code) can be activated simultaneously on a single photobooth unit. Domestic visitors simply scan QRIS as usual, voucher holders enter their code, and foreign tourists have their own card payment channel. Everything runs side by side without interfering with each other.
Why This Matters for Your Venue
- No transaction is missed. Domestic visitors can still use QRIS or vouchers as usual, while foreign tourists have their own payment channel without disrupting the existing flow.
- Minimal additional hardware investment. This solution runs on the system already in the booth and only requires adding QR code stickers and a barcode reader.
- A hygienic, self-service process. Visitors pay directly from their own phones without needing to touch a shared device.
- The booth stays unattended, even for foreign tourists. Because the entire payment process is handled through the visitor's own phone, the venue doesn't need to place a separate cashier to handle manual payments and issue vouchers specifically for foreign visitors. The booth can keep operating independently without adding staff.
- Most beneficial in tourist destinations. Venues in areas like Bali with high foreign tourist traffic will benefit the most from this feature.
About GoPoto
GoPoto is a photobooth provider already operating in various malls and tourist attractions across Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Bali. We continue to develop features to ensure every visitor, domestic or international, has an easy way to pay and enjoy a photo session.
Interested in bringing a photobooth with complete payment options to your venue? Contact the GoPoto team for a consultation.
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