Jakarta. The licensing process for concerts in Indonesia will soon take place digitally, and this new system is expected to lower ticket prices by 20-25 percent.

Event organizers have been struggling to secure their concert permits. Indonesian festival-goers have also been complaining about expensive ticket prices, which can reach millions of rupiahs. As a case in point, the widely talked about Coldplay concert in Jakarta was selling its tickets within a price range of Rp 800,000 (almost $49) and Rp 11 million. Tickets for K-pop concerts in Indonesia usually have a starting price of around Rp 1 million and can reach up to Rp 3 million.

According to Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno, the government will launch an electronic ticket licensing system next week. The ministry will also work in partnership with the police force. 

“One of the reasons why concert tickets have been expensive is because of the licensing and security costs,” Sandiaga said on Friday, as reported by the state news agency Antara.

Sandiaga previously said that Indonesia was eyeing a digital licensing system for event permits to boost transparency.

To this end, the government will integrate the existing licensing systems between ministries and government bodies, including the police’s mass gathering permits.