Indonesia Proposes Visa-Free Access for Taiwanese Tourists
Indonesia is considering granting visa-free access to citizens of Taiwan, as announced by Sandiaga Uno, the country’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister. The proposal is currently under review by the Directorate-General of Immigration. This move aims to boost Indonesia’s tourism by attracting more international visitors.
Visa Initiatives to Boost Tourism
During a meeting with foreign journalists, Minister Sandiaga Uno discussed Indonesia’s “golden visa” and “second home visa” programs, which are designed to enhance tourism and encourage foreign investment. He emphasized the importance of these initiatives in improving Indonesia’s global tourism ranking.
Transition to New Government
The announcement comes as Sandiaga prepares to leave his position before Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration as the next president of Indonesia. He highlighted investment opportunities in Indonesia’s special tourism economic zones, urging foreign companies to explore ventures in various cities.
Visa-Free Access Expansion
Although Taiwan is being considered for visa-free access, it was not included in Indonesia’s recent list of 13 countries granted such privileges. Sandiaga expressed dissatisfaction with this limited list, noting that neighboring countries like Malaysia and Thailand offer broader visa exemptions. The Directorate-General of Immigration reviews its visa-free list every three months and will soon operate as a non-ministerial department under the new government.
Future Plans and Optimism
Sandiaga is optimistic about extending visa-free access to Taiwan, China, and other key markets such as Australia, India, the US, and several European nations. He believes that visa exemptions are vital for elevating Indonesia’s tourism sector, aiming to improve the country’s ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index.
Upcoming Travel Fair and Flights
Indonesia plans to participate in a major international travel fair in Taiwan next year. Starting from the Lunar New Year, two charter flights per week will operate between Taipei and Banyuwangi. These flights are expected to attract more tourists from Taiwan and China, especially to popular destinations like the Ijen volcano complex and Mount Bromo.
Doubts Revealed
Visa-Free Access -: Visa-free access means that people from one country can visit another country without needing to get a special permission called a visa. This makes it easier for tourists to travel and visit new places.
Taiwanese Tourists -: Taiwanese tourists are people from Taiwan who travel to other countries for vacation or leisure. Taiwan is an island nation located near China.
Sandiaga Uno -: Sandiaga Uno is the Tourism Minister of Indonesia. A minister is a person in the government who is in charge of a specific area, like tourism.
Directorate-General of Immigration -: The Directorate-General of Immigration is a part of the government in Indonesia that handles matters related to people entering and leaving the country. They decide on rules about visas and immigration.
Golden Visa -: A golden visa is a special type of visa that allows people to live in a country if they invest a certain amount of money there. It’s a way to attract wealthy people to invest in the country.
Second Home Visa -: A second home visa is a type of visa that allows people to live in a country for a longer period, often for retirement or long-term stay, without becoming a permanent resident.
Charter Flights -: Charter flights are special flights that are not part of the regular airline schedule. They are often arranged for specific groups or events, like bringing tourists to a country.
