Jakarta. Indonesia and South Africa sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation on Thursday as both governments seek to remove travel barriers through easier visa access and joint promotion.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said closer Indonesia–Africa cooperation could help drive economic growth through tourism and cultural exchange.

“This opportunity showcases the combined aspirations of both governments to strengthen the long-standing relationship between Indonesia and Southeast Africa and to encourage bilateral cooperation in tourism,” said Widiyanti at the MoU signing ceremony in Jakarta on Thursday. 

Under the memorandum of understanding, the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in several strategic areas, including sustainable tourism, human resource development, tourism investment promotion and marketing, tourism security and service standards, as well as tourism studies and development.

The agreement also opens the door for joint promotion of flagship destinations and lesser-known “hidden gems,” alongside collaboration in gastronomy and fashion, as part of efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties.

The signing followed a bilateral meeting between Widiyanti and South African Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille.

De Lille said South Africa is committed to developing halal tourism by working with its Muslim Judicial Council and relevant authorities to ensure travelers from the world’s largest Muslim population feel safe and comfortable during their visit.

“All Muslims traveling to South Africa will be warmly welcomed, and we respect your cultural and religious traditions. Now it is up to the people of Indonesia to decide to come and visit us,” she said.

De Lille added that Indonesia already enjoys visa-free access to South Africa and that her government has reformed its visa system, allowing Indonesians to apply online with a turnaround time of less than 24 hours.

Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka previously announced a mutual visa-free travel plan during the Indonesia–Africa CEO Forum 2025 in Johannesburg in November.

Data show that around 30,000 South African tourists visited Indonesia in 2025, while visits by Indonesians to South Africa totaled about 3,000. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), African tourists spent an average of $1,741 (Rp 29,35 million) per visit and stayed 15.27 days, with South Africa the largest source market from the continent.