TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – There were reports on Saturday (June 24) that Indonesia’s decision not to resume the visa-free policy for tourists from 159 countries will also affect Taiwan.
President Joko Widodo said the country has considered reverting to the system implemented before the COVID-19 pandemic, when citizens of 169 countries could visit Indonesia without applying for a visa. However, the government has concluded that the policy no longer benefits the country, Tempo reported.
Ahmad Nur Saleh, spokesman for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, was quoted by the Indonesian publication as saying that “concerns about disturbing public order” and disease from countries not certified disease-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) were factors in the government’s decision.
The decision not to restore visa waivers will not only affect tourists from Taiwan, but also those from the United States, Japan, China, India, Australia and the European Union, according to the Central News Agency.
The price of the visa on arrival and its electronic version (eVOA) is the equivalent of TWD 1,000 (US$32) and can be extended for 30 days. According to the visa-free regulations, the 30-day stay period cannot be extended.
According to the Jakarta Post, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said the visa-free policy is invalid and the end of the program will not have an impact on the tourism industry. It might even improve the quality of tourism in Indonesia, he said.
Going forward, visa-free entry will only be offered to citizens of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which include Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
