Indonesian officials are mulling plans for a new long-term visa that would allow foreign tourists, especially business tourists, to stay in Indonesia for up to five years.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, the latter of which heads Indonesia’s immigration office, are reportedly discussing the possibility. The long-term visa, Sandiaga said, would specifically target foreigners seeking to spend time in Indonesia during the winter months in their home countries.
“The concept is a long-term stay [or] second home visa with a five-year validity. They would have to deposit IDR2 billion (US$142,958) [to be eligible for the visa]. For families, [they would have to deposit] IDR2.5 billion (US$178,698),” Sandiaga said in a statement today.
Indonesia currently offers a one-year multiple entry visit visa where tourists can stay in the country for up to 60 days at a time during the period. Though specific details have yet to be drawn up, Sandiaga’s proposed five-year visa has been implied to allow multiple entries as well.
The long-term visa, Sandiaga hopes, would encourage even more spending from foreign tourists, which may positively impact local economies that have been battered by the pandemic.
Moreover, according to Sandiaga, the country’s tourism sector can benefit from tapping into the huge cash potential from 1 billion global citizens aged 60 and above who have a combined income of more than US$15 trillion. Foreign tourists in this group, he said, will likely spend more on shopping and traveling.
The minister also hoped that this long-term visa concept can be beneficial to digital nomads who have made Indonesia their home away from home, and avoid violations like in the case of Kristen Gray.
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