GOVT TO REVOKE VISA-FREE FACILITY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 8 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has decided to revoke its visa-free facility for a number  of countries but it has not disclosed how many countries of the 169 facility recipients will be affected as it will still carry out further evaluations.          According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, several visa-free facility recipients will be affected based on a preliminary evaluation but he would not reveal it too early, leaving it to the Immigration Directorate General to announce it later.          The government has provided visa waiver facility to 169 countries in an effort to promote its tourism and support its target to win 20 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2019.          In March 2015, the government granted the facility for 30 countries, taking the total number of beneficiaries of the policy to 45, including the 15 existing free visa recipients.          By March 2016, the government has provided the facility to 169 recipients. The main objective of the policy is to promote the country's tourism. However, many circles considered that the facility has the potential to be abused. It also seen to have failed in contributing to the economy.