Indonesia to Exempt Visa for Tourists From 30 Countries

Liputan6.com, Jakarta In trying to promote tourism and hasten economic progress, the Indonesian government has decided to make 30 countries free from visa charges. The exempted visa will inevitably attract worldwide audiences as they would be willing to come here with lesser monetary output when they received the privilege of exempted visa. The government also aims to strengthen rupiah currency against the currently powerful US dollar.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Sofyan Djalil affirms that such decision would be beneficial to the country as its potentiality is evident in other country as well such as China.

"Within the range of one year, we are expecting 1 to 2 million tourist from China," Sofyan informed, Jakarta, Tuesday (17/03/2015).

Sofyan explained, Indonesia has for so long made it hard for tourists from certain countries to come and visit the nation as those countries have to take into account the visa they have to pay and the process to make on. That is why it is imperative for Indonesia to start deciding the exemption visa for tourists from differing nations that may be beneficial for the country’s economy and tourism sector. Malaysia has freed visa policy to 154 countries whereas Thailand has exempted the visa of 60 countries.

"Indonesia has so far only given to 15 countries, with 30 more countries then it will be 45 in total. Malaysia gets at least 25 million tourist thus far as reported from the data collected, whereas tourists who come to Indonesia only reach 9 million. With us exempting visa, I am sure in the next 2 to 3 years, our comers will skyrocket to 15-20 million people from all over the world," Sofyan continued.

Sofyan is assured that Indonesia has the potentiality to attract tourists more than any neighbouring country. If Malaysia and Thailand can attract millions of people, then Indonesia can do better. This is because Indonesia is made out of thousands of beautiful islands scattered across the archipelago and starting from culinary to recreations, Indonesia offers more than any other countries situated next to it.

"If you compare Malaysia's geographical size to ours, you will realize how small they are and how big we are. We just need the right policy to attract comers. If Malaysia and Thailand can reach up to 20 million comers, then we can do better obviously," he concluded. (Akp/Ein)