Indonesia Woos More Malaysian Tourists Via New Policies

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Indonesia hopes to draw about 1.6 million visitors from Malaysia in 2016 with the implementation of three new immigration policies, said Minister Counsellor at the Indonesian Republic Embassy here Trigustono Supriyanto. Under the new policies, which were implemented last month, the Indonesian authorities have increased the number of Immigration checkpoints at its airports and ports for Malaysian travellers, and abolished the Clearance Approval for Indonesia Territory (CAIT) for Malaysian yatchs entering Indonesian territories via 18 ports and Cabotage Principles for cruise ships. Quoting statistics provided by the Indonesian Tourism Ministry, Trigustono said in 2014 about 1.3 million Malaysian tourists visited Indonesia while 2.8 million Indonesians visited Malaysia. "We expect more Malaysians to visit Indonesians now that we have made it easier for them to enter the country," he told a press conference, here, Thursday. The 18 ports where the CAIT has been removed are Sabang Port in Aceh, Belawan Port (Medan), Teluk Payur Port (Padang), Nongsa Point Marina Port (Batam), Bandar Telani Bintan Port (Tanjung Pandan), Sunda Kelapa and Marina Ancol Port (Jakarta), Benoa Port (Bali), Tenau Port (Kupang), Kumai Port (Kota Waringin Barat), Tarakan Port (Tarakan), Nunukan Port (Bulungan), Bitung Port (Bitung), Ambon Port (Ambon), Saumlaki Port (Saumlaki), Tual Port (Tual), Sorong Port (Sorong) and Biak Port (Biak). Meanwhile, the removal of the Cabotage Principles will mean that cruise operators with foreign flags can now dock at five ports in Indonesia to take in passengers. The ports are Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, Belawan Port in Medan, Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar and Benoa Port in Bali. The Indonesian government has also increased the number of Immigration checkpoints at the arrival gates at five airports and nine ports. Additional Immigration checkpoints have also been provided at the departure gates at 19 airports, 29 seaports and two landed ports. -- BERNAMA