Jakarta. The Immigration Office has introduced the Visa-Free Visit (BVK) policy for permanent residents (PR) of Singapore, allowing them to visit the nearby Riau Islands (Kepri). This initiative aims to help Indonesia achieve its target of 14.3 million international tourist visits by 2024.

 "Singapore is our closest neighbor," Nia Niscaya, a senior official at the Tourism Ministry, said during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

For Singaporean PR holders, the visa-free areas in Kepri include Batam, Bintan, and Karimun, allowing stays of up to four days upon arrival, with no option for extension.

Anggit Suhandono from the Immigration Traffic Directorate explained that specific permit holders from Singapore qualify for this status due to their accreditation by the Singaporean government, which eliminates the need for further checks. "This makes it easier for them to visit Indonesia and benefits our tourism and creative economy," Anggit added.

He outlined the conditions for the Specific Stay Permit in Kepri, stating that applicants must be permanent residents of Singapore, hold a blue National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) from Singapore, and not be citizens of countries that require a visa.

In August, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued a regulation granting Visa-Free Visits to citizens from Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Suriname, Colombia, Hong Kong, and certain permit holders from Singapore.

Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, announced plans to implement visa-free travel for foreign tourists wishing to visit Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a renowned tourist destination often referred to as one of "the new Balis."

"We're considering this, but I first want to evaluate the supporting airlines. Without flights, there's little we can promote," he said at The Ritz Carlton SCBD in South Jakarta on Wednesday. 

"This could greatly stimulate growth in certain destinations, like Labuan Bajo or Manado. However, we need to see proposals; simply having a visa-free policy isn't enough without proper preparations," he added.

As of August 2024, Indonesia has welcomed over 9 million foreign travelers, although this number remains below pre-Covid levels. The majority of visitors in August were Malaysians (188,800), followed by Australians (153,700) and Chinese nationals (126,100).

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