Jakarta Globe, Feb 04, 2015
A manta ray swims in the waters of Raja Ampat in eastern Indonesia's remote Papua province. (AFP Photo) |
Jakarta.
Indonesia plans to offer visa-free travel to visitors from China, Japan, Russia
and South Korea as a tactic to boost tourist numbers, a report said on
Wednesday.
Indroyono
Soesilo, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs, told Tempo. co that
the four countries would join the existing 19 nations whose citizens can enter
Indonesia without a visa.
Indonesia
recorded 8.8 million foreign tourists in 2013, a 10 percent rise on the 8
million visitors in 2012.
In 2013
there were 747,921 tourists from China, or 8.5 percent of the total.
Indonesia’s
neighbors have proved a more attractive place to visit over the years, due to
better marketing and infrastructure and fewer visa restrictions. Malaysia
recorded 25 million foreign tourists last year, helped in part by offering
visa-free travel for 90 days to citizens of many countries.
Indroyono
is also keen to provide incentives for foreign cruise vessels to dock in
Indonesia. Seven new docks are in the works, the minister said.
“For
example, we will give foreign cruises and yachts permission to park at the dock
for 6 months,” Indroyono said.
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