The government of Indonesia is planning to extend visa-free entry for travellers from 20 countries as part of efforts to boost tourism arrivals and stimulate economic growth through tourism.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno proposed the initiative during a meeting held with President Joko Widodo, while the country plans to attract a total of $12.9 billion from the tourism industry in the coming year, VisaGuide.World reports.
The president has urged us to finalise the list of eligible countries for this program by the end of this month for his approval.
Nine fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are excluded from this proposal, benefiting from a reciprocal visa-free arrangement as part of regional integration.
We are focusing on attracting tourists who tend to spend more time in Indonesia and make substantial contributions to the local economy.
According to a report from Jakarta Globe, of the total of 20 countries being considered, a total of 18 have been earmarked, including the following ones: Australia, India, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Qatar, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, New Zealand, Italy, and Spain.
The remaining two slots are poised to be allocated to Middle Eastern states.
These nations represent a significant influx of tourists into Indonesia. Additionally, we have observed substantial visits from several 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 travellers.
From January until October this year, a total of 9.49 million arrivals were registered in Indonesia, marking a total 124.3 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The recent measure follows similar moves introduced by Thailand and Malaysia, which have waived visas for travellers from India and China.
Besides, Indonesia introduced a golden visa scheme in September in order to attract a large number of people. The golden visa scheme allows foreigners to acquire residency in this country, provided they make a financial contribution and meet the needed conditions.
In order to acquire residency, internationals are required to make a specific investment of money.