Malaysia and Thailand each attracted three times the number of tourists than Indonesia last year. Taking cues from its neighboring countries, the archipelago nation is waiving visa requirements for citizens of 45 countries starting in April. The Indonesian government initially intended to only include China, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and Australia (which has since been dropped from consideration) to its existing list of 15 countries who enjoy visa-free entries, but the initiative has been extended to 26 additional countries with the hopes that they will reciprocate the gesture.
Canada, Mexico, and the Unites States are among the countries newly added to the list, along with European countries including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Britain. Also added were South Africa, New Zealand, and Middle Eastern countries Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Wary of tourists breaking immigration laws, the Indonesian government has permitted visa-free travel through international airports—with tighter monitoring—in Jakarta, Medan, Batam, Bali, and Surabaya.
For more information, visit Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism.
