Indonesia reopens door for int'l visitors from 19 countries: minister

Fully-vaccinated international visitors from 19 countries with a COVID-19 positivity rate of less than 5 percent have been allowed to come to Indonesia. They should have health insurance as well as proof of booking accommodations for a five-day quarantine.

JAKARTA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- International visitors from 19 countries with a COVID-19 positivity rate of less than 5 percent have been allowed to come to Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said at a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday.

These countries are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway.

"This policy only applies specifically to direct flights to Bali and Riau Islands," Pandjaitan added.

They are allowed to enter this Southeast Asian country if they test negative from COVID-19, have been fully vaccinated, and have health insurance as well as proof of booking accommodations for a five-day quarantine.

Bali is an Indonesian province with the most international visitors, while Riau Islands, in the west of the country bordering Singapore, is in the second position of foreign tourist arrivals.

Indonesia reopens flights for international visitors in the two provinces starting from Oct. 14 as the COVID-19 pandemic has been under control.