RI eases immigration rules

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Justice has issued a decree to allow visitors to enter Indonesia without a visa through five airports and 12 seaports, an official said on Wednesday.

Director General of Immigration M. Mudakir said in a statement that the decree issued on June 22 aimed at luring more visitors into the country.

Visitors who enter the country through the airports and seaports under the so-called Visa Free Brief Visit program may stay in the country for a maximum two months for traveling, convention and business talks, Mudakir said.

The five airports are Halim Perdanakusuma (Jakarta), Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (Palembang), Adi Sucipto (Yogyakarta), Juwata (Tarakan, East Kalimantan), Morpah (Merauke, Irian Jaya).

The 12 seaports are Kuala Langsa (Langsa, Aceh), Sabang (Sabang, Aceh), Pekanbaru (Pekanbaru, Riau), Bengkalis (Bengkalis, Riau), Tarempa (Tarempa, Riau), Sungai Guntung and Kuala Elok (Tembilahan, Riau), Teluk Bayur (Padang, West Sumatra), Sampit (Sampit, Central Kalimantan), Malundung (Tarakan, East Kalimantan), Nunukan (Nunukan, East Kalimantan).

Prior to the issuance of the decree, the government had opened tens of airports and seaports cross the country as entry points for visitors without visas.

Thus far, the government has made the visa-free program available for visitors from 48 countries.(jsk)