Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno confirmed during the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, that the proposal to extend the visa exemption policy is still under government review. This initiative aims to attract more Chinese tourists, who are expected to surpass pre-pandemic spending levels this year.
Indonesia needs to update its visa policies to compete with neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore, which offer broader visa exemptions. Only citizens of the nine other ASEAN countries are exempt from short-stay visas.
Last year, Sandiaga Uno announced plans to extend visa exemptions to 20 more countries, including China, the United States, France, India, and the United Kingdom.
Sandiaga Uno confirmed that this project is progressing and aims to be finalized before the new government takes office in October. This commitment to the project’s timeline reassures the public of the government’s dedication to this initiative, particularly for Chinese tourists, who are expected to number around 1.2 million this year.
In early June, Sandiaga Uno expressed his desire for the swift implementation of the visa-free policy to boost tourism, potentially bringing $40 billion to Indonesia’s economy. He stressed the need for control and supervision to ensure that only ‘quality’ tourists benefit from this visa waiver, underlining the urgency and importance of this initiative for the country’s economic growth.
Most international tourists currently need a visa to visit Indonesia. The open visa-free policy was suspended in June 2023, and now, except for ASEAN visitors, visas are required. Indonesian visas can be obtained on arrival or online through the e-Visa system. The “B1” e-VOA is valid for 90 days with a 30-day stay, extendable once for 30 days. The “211A” tourist e-Visa allows a 60-day stay, extendable twice for 60 days each.
By the end of the year, citizens from an additional 10 to 20 countries could enjoy visa-free travel to Indonesia.
Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno confirmed during the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, that the proposal to extend the visa exemption policy is still under government review. This initiative aims to attract more Chinese tourists, who are expected to surpass pre-pandemic spending levels this year.
Indonesia needs to update its visa policies to compete with neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore, which offer broader visa exemptions. Only citizens of the nine other ASEAN countries are exempt from short-stay visas.
Last year, Sandiaga Uno announced plans to extend visa exemptions to 20 more countries, including China, the United States, France, India, and the United Kingdom.
Sandiaga Uno confirmed that this project is progressing and aims to be finalized before the new government takes office in October. This commitment to the project’s timeline reassures the public of the government’s dedication to this initiative, particularly for Chinese tourists, who are expected to number around 1.2 million this year.
In early June, Sandiaga Uno expressed his desire for the swift implementation of the visa-free policy to boost tourism, potentially bringing $40 billion to Indonesia’s economy. He stressed the need for control and supervision to ensure that only ‘quality’ tourists benefit from this visa waiver, underlining the urgency and importance of this initiative for the country’s economic growth.
Most international tourists currently need a visa to visit Indonesia. The open visa-free policy was suspended in June 2023, and now, except for ASEAN visitors, visas are required. Indonesian visas can be obtained on arrival or online through the e-Visa system. The “B1” e-VOA is valid for 90 days with a 30-day stay, extendable once for 30 days. The “211A” tourist e-Visa allows a 60-day stay, extendable twice for 60 days each.
