Citizens of India may soon be eligible to travel visa-free to Indonesia after the latter’s authorities are considering the possibility of abolishing such requirements for Indians.
According to local media reports, the new changes will likely be finalised within the next month, with the country’s government continuously attempting to find effective ways to boost the tourism sectors, thus contributing to the economic growth, VisaGuide.World reports.
The recent move aims to attract a large number of nationals from India.
At present, nationals of India are required to apply for a visa when planning to travel to Indonesia for different purposes, including for work or study purposes.
However, diplomatic and official passport holders from several countries are excluded from visa requirements for short-term visits to Indonesia with a maximum stay of 30 days. India is also included in Indonesia’s list of countries with which it has a visa-free agreement for diplomatic passport holders and passport officials.
The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno recently unfolded plans to abolish visa requirements for arrivals for a total of 20 countries as part of efforts to attract a larger number of foreign nationals.
The ministry proposed 20 countries with the highest (number of) foreign tourists, except for those with existing visa exemptions.
In addition to India, the list of 20 countries also includes China, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany, among others.
Uno expressed his hopes that abolishing visa requirements for these 20 countries would lead to an increase in the number of international tourists.
We are targeting quality tourists, especially those with longer stays and higher spending in the local economy.
Uno unfolded the plan during a meeting held with President Joko Widodo. Indonesia aims to attract a total of $12.9 billion from the tourism industry in 2024.
Authorities in Indonesia registered a total of 16 million visitors in 2019. In the same period, there was a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors, reaching 9.49 million visitors, or a 124 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
Indonesia followed Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia’s steps, introducing similar measures.
As part of efforts to further help the country’s economic sector, in September this year, Indonesia introduced the Golden Visa Program, which allows wealthy foreign nationals to acquire residency if they meet specific conditions and contribute financially to this country.
