The Indonesian government plans to extend visa-free entry to travelers from 20 countries as part of efforts to increase tourist arrivals and stimulate economic growth through tourism.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno proposed the initiative during a meeting with President Joko Widodo, while the country plans to attract a total of $12.9 billion from the tourism sector in the coming year, according to VisaGuide.World.
The President has urged us to finalize the list of eligible countries for this scheme by the end of this month and send it for his approval.
Nine fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are excluded from the scheme, benefiting from a reciprocal visa-free arrangement as part of regional integration.
We focus on attracting tourists who spend more time in Indonesia and make a significant contribution to the local economy.
According to the Jakarta Globe report, out of a total of 20 countries under consideration, a total of 18 countries have been earmarked, including Australia, India, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Qatar. , Germany, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, New Zealand, Italy and Spain.
The remaining two seats are to be reserved for Middle Eastern states.
These countries represent a significant influx of tourists to Indonesia. Additionally, we have observed significant inflows from many Middle Eastern countries, particularly for investment purposes.
The country welcomed many visitors before the spread of the coronavirus and its new variants. In 2019, Indonesia welcomed more than 16 million internationals, and the country has opened its doors to many travelers.
From January to October this year, a total of 9.49 million visits were recorded in Indonesia, a total increase of 124.3 percent compared to the same period last year.
The latest move follows similar moves introduced by countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, which have waived visas for travelers from India and China.
Besides, Indonesia introduced the Golden Visa scheme in September to attract people. The Golden Visa program allows foreigners to obtain residency in this country, provided they contribute financially and meet the necessary conditions.
In order to get residency, internationals need to invest a certain amount of money.