Tempo is reporting that the Indonesian government has officially announced the implementation of a visa-free travel policy for citizens of 13 countries. This new policy is outlined in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 95 of 2024, which was ratified on August 29, 2024.
Under this regulation, the designated 13 countries which are referred to as “Visa-Free Visit Subjects” are exempt from the requirement to obtain a visit visa to enter Indonesia. This privilege extends to both governments of special administrative regions and certain entities or holders of specific residence permits, as stated in Article 2 paragraph (2) of the regulation.
The thirteen countries included in the visa-free visit subjects are Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Suriname, Colombia, and Hong Kong, according to Tempo.
The Presidential Regulation was ratified based on reciprocal considerations and the principle of benefit. The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment emphasized that the selective granting of visa-free travel aims to enhance the security of Indonesian territory, as reported on the official page of the ministry.
Tempo reports that Article 3 of the Presidential Regulation specifies the maximum length of stay for visa-free visits as 30 days. However, the minister may temporarily suspend it under certain circumstances, such as those related to state security or public health.
The implementation of visa-free travel is expected to boost state revenue, which can subsequently be used to support economic growth and national development.
Another key consideration in granting visa-free visits is its potential impact on the tourism sector. The regulation is expected to stimulate tourism throughout Indonesia, particularly in the Riau Islands, says Tempo.
Steven Japari, Golf Division Head and Project Coordinator of Nuvasa Bay Sinar Mas Land in Batam, highlighted the potential benefits of visa-free travel for permanent residents (PR) in Singapore. He suggested that even 10 percent of the 1.7 million PR holders in Singapore visited the Riau Islands due to the visa-free facility could significantly boost foreign tourist arrivals.
“Imagine, if 10 percent of them visited Riau Islands regularly once a month, Riau Islands could attract 170,000 foreign tourists per month,” he said, adding that Presidential Regulation 95 explicitly grants short-term visa-free travel to citizens with permanent residency in Singapore.
Source: Tempo
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