Image: layoverguide
Brilio.net/en - While holidaymakers from around the world are flocking everyday to Bali, Australian visitors are known to be the largest in number. More than 1.1 million Australians visited Indonesia in a year, 90% of whom traveled to Bali, making it their favourite overseas destination despite the entry fee.
Yet delightful news has emerged, when Australian are finally set to get free entry to Bali, with Indonesia announcing a new list of countries to be exempt from the US$49 fee.
Last year, Australia was previously included in the list, but was left off at the last minute as Australias Federal Govenment wouldnt provide mutual rights for Indonesian.
But at the end of last year, Canberra has finally changed rules regarding visa for Indonesians, including the introduction of a three-year multiple entry visa and an online application tool from 2017.
The easier travel requirements seemed to be enough to make Indonesias Goverment to include Australia in the list of 79 countries, which citizens are free to enter the country for 30 days.
Other countries added to the list include Brazil, Ukraine, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Palestine, Honduras, Pakistan, and Mongolia.
No official date has yet been announced for the change to take effect.
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said Indonesias move was a strong play to attract more visitors to their shores and Australia should adopt a similar mentality.
Indonesia is one of Australias closest neighbours with a growing middle class population, says Osmond. Yet it is far down the list at number 12, by the country of origin for tourists coming to Australia with only 151,000 Indonesians visiting the past 12-months.
She said Australia should seriously consider the cost of the $135 visitor visa, describing it as a financial disincentive to visit our country.
(brl/tis)
