Jakarta - Republic of Indonesia volition presently permit tourists from an additional xxx countries to watch without a visa, a government minister said, but neighbouring Commonwealth of Australia was left off the listing amidst a row over looming executions.
The movement comes every bit Djakarta seeks to boost a faltering economy, which is growing at five-year lows, in addition to to attract to a greater extent than unusual income every bit the rupiah apace weakens.
The province currently entirely allows tourists from xv countries, to a greater extent than ofttimes than non inwards Southeast Asia, to watch without a visa. People from a release of other countries tin purchase a tourist visa on arrival.
The xxx countries added to the listing are mainly European, but besides include China in addition to several others inwards Asia, the United States, in addition to merely about nations inwards the Middle East in addition to Africa (Including SA), Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said.
"People who desire to locomote to Republic of Indonesia won't require to worry well-nigh a visa whatever more," Yahya said belatedly Monday, every bit he announced the changes.
"We promise that nosotros tin attract an additional i meg unusual tourists," he added, maxim the policy could convey inwards an extra $1 billion a twelvemonth in addition to that he hoped it would come upward into result adjacent month.
Indonesia has long lagged behind its neighbours inwards attracting unusual visitors. In 2013, 8.8 meg unusual visitors came to Indonesia, according to official figures, compared amongst 25.72 meg inwards Malaysia in addition to 26.55 meg inwards Thailand.
But Yahya predicted that "in 2 years, nosotros volition musical rhythm out those countries" next the introduction of the novel policy.
Australia - which accounted for to a greater extent than than 10 per centum of Indonesia's unusual visitors inwards 2013 -- was non included inwards the listing of countries whose citizens volition no longer require a visa.
Ties betwixt Republic of Indonesia in addition to Commonwealth of Australia accept deteriorated inwards recent months every bit Djakarta prepares to execute 2 Australian drug traffickers on give-up the ghost row who were convicted of trying to smuggle heroin out of Bali.
Yahya denied the row had played a role, suggesting that Commonwealth of Australia was excluded from the listing because its ain policy required visiting Indonesians to accept a visa.
However, most of the xxx countries added to the listing require Indonesians to obtain a visa earlier visiting.
"It's non that nosotros produce non desire to include Australia," he said.
Though their province was non on Indonesia's visa-free list, Australian nationals tin yet purchase a tourist visa on arrival.
The government minister besides downplayed fears that Republic of Indonesia was ill-prepared for a huge confine inwards the release of tourists.
"We accept calculated that if nosotros accept a l per centum increase, our capacity is soundless to a greater extent than than enough," he said.
Indonesia's economic scheme has been difficult hitting every bit investors take away funds in addition to redirect them dorsum towards to a greater extent than developed markets, which accept of late been showing signs of renewed strength.
The economical woes accept seen the rupiah sink to a 17-year depression against the dollar inwards recent days.
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