From January 1, 2024, visa-free entry for Russians in Indonesia

Starting from January 1, 2024, Indonesia invites Russian tourists on a unique trip without a visa. This revolutionary decision was made as part of a strategy to attract foreign visitors and stimulate the tourism industry.

The Indonesian authorities have announced an expansion of the list of countries for which a visa will become optional, including Russia. The main goal is to increase the flow of tourists and support economic growth through tourism development. According to forecasts, next year the country plans to generate income in the amount of 200 trillion Indonesian rupees, opening its doors to guests from all over the world.

This historic decision was announced after a meeting between Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, and President Joko Widodo. The decision supports the idea of expanding the list of countries exempt from visa restrictions in order to stimulate tourism in the "low" season.

At the moment, the list of countries for which visa will not tripolitsa includes Russia, Australia, China, India, South Korea, USA, UK, France, Germany, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, Italy and Spain. In addition, two countries from the Middle East may also be included in this list.

This decision caused a change in the rhetoric of the Indonesian authorities. If earlier the emphasis was on the need to "improve the quality of tourists" by abandoning winterers, now the focus is on attracting guests who are ready to spend more time in the country and make a significant contribution to the local economy.

However, experts believe that despite ambitious plans, it is not worth expecting a sharp increase in the number of tourists from Russia. Indonesia's official statistics for the period from January to November 2023 show that the number of Russian tourists has already exceeded the results of the entire 2019 year. In 10 months of 2023, 131,482 Russians visited Indonesia, while in 2019 – 125 thousand.

It should also be taken into account that the vast majority of the incoming flow from Russia to Indonesia consists of "winterers" and "removalists", whose average stay in the country in 2023 was 48 days. These figures are significantly higher than for tourists from other countries such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom, whose average stay period is 11-16 days.

Tour operators express the opinion that at current flight prices, the savings from visa cancellation in the amount of $35 will not be a key factor for tourists. However, the introduction of direct flights may be an incentive to increase the tourist flow.

On the other hand, it is worth noting that from February 14, 2024, every foreigner arriving in Bali will be required to pay a new fee of 150,000 rupees ($10). This change may influence the decision of those who consider Indonesia as a wintering place.

It is difficult to predict what changes the cancellation of the visa will lead to. However, if the new visa-free regime allows attracting tourists even for 60 days, this could become a serious competitive advantage for Indonesia over countries where short visa-free access is provided.

In conclusion, Indonesia's decision to open its borders to Russian tourists provides a unique opportunity for travelers. However, the real impact of this decision on the tourism industry will only become clear over time. All eyes are now on January 2024, when a new phase of Indonesia's tourism opportunities will begin to take effect.