Tourism Ministry proposes visa-free entry based on three indicators
The Ministry of Tourism has stated that the proposal to add visa-free visit facilities for a number of countries was compiled based on three indicators: tourist numbers, tourist spending levels, and the sustainability of visit growth.
Ministry of Tourism Spokesperson Nia Niscaya said the ministry is proposing visa-free visits for tourists from China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Singapore permanent residents. “Our consideration is based on the 3S and historical statistical data,” Nia said during a press conference for the ‘Liburan Cara Baru #DiIndonesiaAja’ campaign in Jakarta on Thursday.
The second indicator is the amount of tourist expenditure during their visit to Indonesia, measured through tourist spending surveys. The third indicator is the sustainability of tourist visit growth from the originating countries.
Nia revealed that the Tourism Ministry had previously proposed around 20 countries for the visa-free visit facility. However, during cross-ministerial and institutional discussions, the proposal is set to be narrowed down further. She also explained that the proposal for Singapore permanent residents was driven by the potential market of international tourists residing in that country.
“We are requesting whether they can be allowed not only to visit the Riau Islands visa-free, but also other parts of Indonesia, as this would be good for the distribution of tourists and for regional development,” she said.
Nia stated that visa policy is an important factor in increasing ease of travel for tourists to Indonesia while strengthening the competitiveness of the national tourism sector. However, she stressed that the proposal is still under discussion with relevant ministries and agencies under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
“The decision is not ours alone. We are discussing this together with Immigration and related ministries in an ongoing forum. Let us wait for the results,” Nia said.