Indonesia to Add More Countries to Visa-Free Entry Program

Indonesian authorities are set to allow citizens from 20 countries to visit without needing a visa.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in Indonesia has announced plans to extend visa-free entry to travelers from 20 additional countries, focusing on key tourism markets.

This visa-free entry will be effective from October this year, and an official list has already been submitted.

“The selection process is nearly complete, and the list of 20 destinations has been submitted. We are advocating for visa-free entry for tourists from countries that provide the greatest economic impact,” said Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno.

Ministry officials compiled this list last December, which includes significant tourism markets such as Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, the UK, and the US.

It’s worth noting that the lifting of social distancing protocols after COVID-19 has prompted various countries to boost tourism and ease entry for tourists to spur economic growth.

In terms of statistics, Indonesia welcomed approximately 11.7 million tourists last year, a figure considerably lower than other Southeast Asian countries. In the first three months of 2024 alone, around three million foreign visitors arrived in Indonesia, but the government aims to boost this number to 17 million by the end of the year.