The article below was published on 5 November 2014 and is now outdated. Continue to read these three follow-up articles;
To promote the growth of tourist arrivals, Indonesia plans to waive visa requirements for tourists from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia (the five main markets for Indonesian Tourism), as well as introduce third-country visas next year.
This was announced on 5 November 2014, at a meeting in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s coordinating minister of maritime affairs, Indroyono Susilo, said: “A task force has been set up to make the (government regulation) amendments, with a target to implement this in 2015.”
“It has been agreed we will add five visa free countries to target the Indonesian tourism market. At this moment, there are already 15 visa-free countries. The additional five countries will be China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Australia,” said Indroyono.
Currently, these five countries must obtain a visa on arrival to enter Indonesia. The selection of these new five visa free countries is based on the fact that these countries are the main market for Indonesian tourism.
According to the Head of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Tourism Noviendi Makalam, these five countries account for 54 percent of the total number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia.
Part of the Ministry of Tourism’s quick-win program is to boost arrivals to Indonesia and achieve 20 million arrivals by 2019. Tourism minister Arief Yahya expects 450,000 to 500,000 additional arrivals from the five target markets per year alone as a result of this visa-free facility.
He said that with the introduction of visa-free short visit for these five countries, it is expected that within a year, this will add to the presence of 450,000 – 500,000 foreign tourists.
“Indeed, we will lose 25 dollars (sic) per foreign tourist visas,” he said. So if multiplied by 450,000 tourists, the potential loss will be 11,250,000 US Dollars.
But, he added, with the additional estimated 450,000 foreign tourists, and an expected expenditure of 1,200 US Dollars per foreign tourist, the state could earn about 540 million US Dollars.
Former foreign minister Marty Natalegawa previously said the visa waiver would likely take effect around January 2015 and that Indonesia was also working on a policy to waive visa requirements for Japanese citizens visiting Indonesia.
As for the third-country visa program, Indroyono said that travelers who have gained entry to Singapore and Malaysia will be granted visa-free access to Indonesia.
Arief explained: “We still need to discuss details with the related government departments, but the idea is that other country’s customers can also be ours. Long-haul travelers, for example, have come a long way to Singapore or Malaysia, and they also want to visit us while they are in the neighborhood.
“But we have made this difficult with our visa requirements. Why don’t we let these countries check them and we just welcome them?”
Within South-east Asia alone, Arief sees market potential in Singapore’s 15 million arrivals, Malaysia’s 25 million and Thailand’s 26 million.
However, he also said that in the future; third-country visas could also apply for areas like the US, EU and Australia, which are known for their stringent visa application requirements.
Source : TTG Asia & Kompas.com & Jakarta Post
My name is mian said iam stay Abu dhabi I need visit viaza Indonesia
If your nationality is from UAE then you are eligible for a free 30 day visa on arrival. Please check this page to learn more: https://www.balistoreluggage.com/blog/indonesian-visa-on-arrival-regulations/
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Great discussion good to know there is a Free Visa to visit Indonesia hope other country will do the same ..
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Thank you Grace, glad to hear this was useful to you 🙂
Good arif brother
About time.. i live in bali work in mining in australia.. i have travelled to other countries where you dont pay for a visa. The money you pay for a visa goes straight to Jakarta anyway.. at least ppl will spend that $35 us in the bali economy..
Hi Sam, thanks for dropping by.
Unfortunately, while there have been discussions about granting free visa entry to these additional 5 countries, it hasn’t been poured into an actual decree yet so at this moment, Australia and the other 4 countries, still need to pay the USD 35 visa on arrival fee.
I agree with you though that it would be nice if Bali visitors got to spend the 35 bucks in Bali rather than having it sent to Jakarta.
Fingers crossed it will happen soon!
Not A Bad Idea,
But please make sure and confirm us that the government will be ready with proper Infrastructures, Public Transportation facilities for both locals n tourist to commute easily without much problems, Proper water supply for Indonesian citizen and tourists along with educating locals to STOP WASTING WATER by splashing it on streets with PIPES, Proper Trash management, sustainable clean n green environment, Health, security, Low to zero crimes, Education for local people so they know how to handle and touch with tourism, etc,
Its really very important to have all these things in place before targeting big tourist incoming. We all should give our best in making our country better place to live. Idea to give FREE VISA is not bad but they can also think on making it 5-10usd instead of 25usd or Free Visa for these countries and use that money for Infrastructure and other Educational growth for citizens to have better life and living standard. I hope these Government should make living better for each and every citizen rather then getting our self being slaves in hands of other countries. Good Luck n Thanks
Thank you and that verry good.and please put more attention bali is nice but stil had so many crime.please government do some think for bali crime for tourism .why because i stay in bali and i show so many crime in bali thank u
Thanks! very much. See you again Not very long to Indonesia. Bandung,Jakarta. !!!☻
I would have thought the air port tax some $110 would be the prime target. as against a $35 AUD visa.
Hi Martin,
Hope you are fine and in best of your ways.
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Your going to get more tourist because they don’t have to spend $25. Hum are those the kind of tourist you want? Seams like the visa fee should just be spent on making Indo a more desirable place to come. Aka teaching people not to throw their garbage out the windo, in the streams and ocean. Or responsible tourism. Typical Jarkata shortsightedness. Good luck.
That makes common sense,(sadly common sense is not that common0
The problem with Indonesia’s visa regime is not the visa on arrival. They perform no checks – the visa is sold just like chewing gum or a chocolate bar. This is simply a “marketing trick”.
Good, they made the arrival free for some countries. But did they maybe increase the size of the bribe we have to pay for visa extensions?
Another thing that is ridiculous :
The visa on arrival can be extended only once. Then you have to leave the country and get a new visa. A few months ago I had to pay over $400 for flights, visa services etc . in Singapore just to get that sticker in my passport. And that money could have been spent in Indonesia rather than in Singapore.
The problem with Indonesian visas is all the corruption and the visa extension madness. Malaysia allows most nationals access for three months against no fee. Indonesia will have to compete with that.
For a huge country like Indonesia, having to extend the visa every month is crazy. You travel for three weeks, then you spend a week (or more) waiting for a visa extension. The wait depends on the size of the bribe or the fee of the visa agent. Does the Indonesian government genuinely want travellers or just short term visitors who never leave Bali?
Да ну….. это же круто
I’m hoping that is it true we will get a visa to go to besting at her place thanks for that
I’ve never been put off by Indonesia’s visa requirements. Partly because I know and love it so. I recently traveled from Singapore to America however, and had a choice between airindia or airkorea. I chose air Korea based purely on India tourist visas being too expensive for a few day stop over.
Loosing 25 US$ on a VOA??? Is the minister aware that Bali charges 35 US$?
US$ 25 may equal to AU$ 35.
Mr. Arief Yahya, this is a great breakthrough to increase the great expected arrival to Indonesia. But please please please make sure and confince us that the government will be ready with the infrastructures, public transporrations without polution, water supplay for Indonesian people and tourists and argicultures, trash management, sustainable green environtment, cleanliness, health, security, low to zero crimes, tourism education for local people so they know how to handle and touch with tourism, etc, because over capacity of tourists to Indonesia may be create a new problem and otherwise this program will be a boomerang for Indonesia! Good Luck!!!
Agreed. Bali is an absolute basket case and I despair for its people. I’m shocked at what it has become.
Agreed with you Mr Ketut.
Its really very important to have all these things in place before targeting big tourist incoming. We all should give our best in making our country better place to live. Idea to give FREE VISA is not bad but they can also think on making it 5-10usd instead of 25usd or Free Visa for these countries and use that money for Infrastructure and other Educational growth for citizens to have better life and living standard. I hope these Government should make living better for each and every citizen rather then getting our self being slaves in hands of other countries.
Not A Bad Idea,
But please make sure and confirm us that the government will be ready with proper Infrastructures, Public Transportation facilities for both locals n tourist to commute easily without much problems, Proper water supply for Indonesian citizen and tourists along with educating locals to STOP WASTING WATER by splashing it on streets with PIPES, Proper Trash management, sustainable clean n green environment, Health, security, Low to zero crimes, Education for local people so they know how to handle and touch with tourism, etc,
Its really very important to have all these things in place before targeting big tourist incoming. We all should give our best in making our country better place to live. Idea to give FREE VISA is not bad but they can also think on making it 5-10usd instead of 25usd or Free Visa for these countries and use that money for Infrastructure and other Educational growth for citizens to have better life and living standard. I hope these Government should make living better for each and every citizen rather then getting our self being slaves in hands of other countries. Good Luck n Thanks
The emerging markets of the north are seeking their Caribbean, their Mediterranean, their places in the sun and as next generation cruise ships migrate into Asia they wonder where these millions of tourists will be able to visit. Hong Kong and Singapore are expanding their ports by half a billion US each, creating tourist hubs and gateways to unknown destinations afloat. Chinese tourism is not considering the Philippines, coastal Viet Nam is already expanding facilities and an array of excursions, and Indonesia is vying to offer that place in the sun by tossing a tiny incentive – a small price for receiving guests from Vladivostok, Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul seeking their paradisiacal dream, their escape from the cold, it’s only natural and the infrastructure, well the developments will come; Denpasar dredging its harbor and considering runway expansion, anchorage in Komodo, so many island destinations and that’s only from the sea. The world is growing together rapidly and who will be prepared for the flood toward these world class beaches and the adventures of Indonesia? Caril Ridley