Indonesia recently announced a significant change in its visa policy, with the intention of revitalising tourism and strengthening its economy.
As of December 20, 2023, the country initiated a five-year visa program, enabling visitors to stay up to 60 days per entry. Introduced by immigration chief Silmy Karim in alignment with government efforts to stimulate economic growth, the program allows multiple entries and introduces online application options with credit card payment facilities for foreigners.
Previously, Indonesia’s standard tourist visa allowed a 30-day stay with a single entry, extendable for an additional 30 days before expiration.
Despite surpassing its target of 8.5 million tourists by December 8 and welcoming nearly 10 million foreign tourists, this figure still lags behind neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, which have reported higher tourist influxes – 26 million, 24 million, and 11.2 million, respectively.
Indonesia has set an ambitious target of attracting 40 million foreign tourists by 2025 to further elevate its tourism sector. This aligns with a broader trend in Southeast Asia, where countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore are also adopting more flexible visa policies and easing entry requirements.
The strategic initiative is geared towards enticing foreign visitors, especially from emerging markets like China and India, as nations race to enhance their respective tourism industries.
