Overview
The list of nations will probably be finalized within the next month if stories are to be believed. The Minister of Tourism for Indonesia went on to say that the government has given instructions to investigate the possibility of waiving visas, primarily to promote greater foreign investment, boost GDP, and draw in more tourists.
Indonesia is considering allowing nationals from 20 countries—including the US, China, Australia, South Korea, Germany, the UK, and France—to enter the country without a visa. This project is going to be a part of a plan that aims to strengthen the economy and encourage tourism. The announcement was made recently by Sandiago Uno, the nation’s minister of tourism.
The list of nations will probably be finalized within the next month if stories are to be believed. The Minister of Tourism for Indonesia went on to say that the government has given instructions to investigate the possibility of waiving visas, mostly to promote greater foreign investment, boost economic growth, and draw in more tourists.
Indonesia caught almost 16 million foreign visitors in 2019, compared to before figures. From January to October of this year, the nation saw a notable spike in international arrivals, with a total of 9.49 million visitors—a significant 124.3% rise over the same time in 2022.
In line with a worldwide trend, visa waivers for travelers from China and India were also introduced by Thailand and, more recently, Malaysia. In addition, Indonesia introduced a golden visa program in September to draw in international nationals and business investors.
The Director-General of Migration, Silmy Karim, states that obtaining a golden visa involves being granted a residence permit that might be valid for five to 10 years.
A $2.5 million company must be established to be eligible for a 5-year visa; a $5 million investment is needed for a ten-year visa. Corporate investors seeking five-year director and commissioner visas must contribute $25 million; for a 10-year visa, the investment doubles to $50 million.
As previously reported, as part of its attempts to strengthen its tourism industry, Vietnam is also planning to investigate the prospect of granting Indian tourists visa-free entrance. Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Nguyn Van Jung, is advocating for temporary visa exemptions for important markets, such as China and India. This program will provide the tourist sector of the nation the much-needed boost it needs to recover.