The government is currently drafting the concept of a long term stay (long term) or second home visa for foreign tourists, especially business people. How long is this visa planned to be valid?
The issue of long-term visas has been discussed by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno and Menkumham Yasonna Laoly.
The tourist objects that will be opened for foreign tourists are Bali, Batam Bintan, and several other destinations that are in accordance with the ASEAN Travel Corridor frame and are expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
“We have just completed a meeting with Menkumham Yasonna Laoly. We appreciate the readiness and steps to coordinate the opening of better health data and tighter health protocols in the context of opening tourist arrivals to several tourism centers and the creative economy that we are preparing together with The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Health, the Covid-19 Task Force and local governments, “said Sandiaga Uno, Monday (8/2/2021) in Jakarta.
This long-term visa, according to Sandi, has become a trend, targeting workers and business tourists who can stay in Indonesia for months.
“We are targeting business travelers who enter Indonesia within 3-4 months per year during winter in their home country. The concept is that long term stay second home visas for 5 year visas they deposit their money of Rp. 2 billion if the family is Rp. 2.5 billion. They can invest here, their visas are renewed every 5 years, “said Sandi.
Sandi hopes that this concept can improve the quality of tourism in terms of length of visit and the amount of expenditure or economic impact that is felt by the local economic community.
“The plan to develop a special visa for long-term visits is in line with the latest trends. Where it is mentioned there is a 7th continent, with 1 billion global citizens aged 60 years and over with an income of more than 15 trillion US dollars who have the ability to live more. long, shopping and traveling longer. This needs to be the focus of improving the quality of our tourists, especially from the length of visits and spending or spending of these tourists while in Indonesia, “added Sandiaga Uno.
Furthermore, Sandiaga Uno said that his party would formulate together with Immigration the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy as the leading sector for implementing this long-term visa. Currently, foreign citizens (WNA) are not allowed to enter Indonesia because it is still a Corona virus pandemic. Only certain groups such as government officials or foreigners can enter for humanitarian reasons.