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Kahon Chan

Hong Kong passport holders can once again travel to Indonesia visa-free after the city became one of three places outside the Asean bloc to be granted an exemption.
Businesses welcomed the update over travel rules from the country’s consulate in the city on Wednesday, with a chamber of commerce saying it would make visits easier for potential investors.
“I believe that the Indonesian government wants to attract more people to come to Indonesia,” said Brian Chan Pak-lam, vice-president of the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
“It’s always better if you have less friction, although it is not that difficult to get a visa on arrival.”
The city was included in Indonesia’s latest list of 13 countries and regions entitled to visa-free entry under a decree signed by President Joko Widodo last week, with the consulate confirming the policy change on social media.
“Hongkongers can now enjoy visa-free travel to Indonesia,” the consulate said.
The 12 other places include all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and one observer, East Timor, as well as two South American nations, Suriname and Colombia.

Indonesia previously allowed visa-free access for 169 countries and regions, but the arrangement had been suspended for visitors from non-Asean nations since June 2023.
The presidential decree said authorities expected to increase public revenues and support the country’s economic development through the “selectivity” of granting visa exemptions.
Indonesia charges 500,000 rupiah (US$32), or about HK$250, for regular visas on arrival.
In July, the country received 925,690 visitors who required the travel permits.
Hong Kong has been among the country’s top-three origins of foreign direct investment for four consecutive years since 2020. The city contributed US$6.5 billion in 2023, or 7.2 per cent of the full-year total.
The commerce chamber’s Chan said Hong Kong’s interest in the Indonesian market had “soared” lately, as businesses and officials looked beyond the West to diversify their portfolio of economic partners.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also paid a visit to the country’s capital, Jakarta, as part of a weeklong trip in July last year.
But Chan also acknowledged that lengthy flight times of over four hours had put off many holidaymakers from Hong Kong.
According to Indonesia’s official data, 3,550 Hong Kong passport holders arrived in July and stayed an average of just two nights, while the average length across all international visitors was about eight nights.
By contrast, Singapore welcomed 33,769 visitors from the city in the same month.

Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, the executive director of packaged tour operator EGL Tours, said the company was informed of the visa policy change last Friday but it was too early to tell whether it would lure Hongkongers.
“The arrangement has only been in effect for a few days and there is yet to be a response. But of course, being able to save the visa fee will surely give people some motivation to go to Indonesia,” he said. “After all, a visa arrangement always seems like a hassle that costs extra.”
He said the country represented only a small percentage of business at his travel agency, which focused on group tours to Japan.
Air Asia, which is set to launch direct flights from Hong Kong to Bali and Jakarta next month, has rolled out special fares starting from HK$958 for a one-way ticket to Denpasar in response to the announcement.
The Hong Kong to Bali route is currently served by two daily flights operated by Cathay Pacific Airways and Hong Kong Airlines, while 20 weekly flights run between the city and Jakarta. Cathay also flies daily to Surabaya, the country’s second-largest city.
Indonesian passport holders can stay in Hong Kong for 30 days without needing a visa.


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Hongkongers can visit Indonesia without visa as city joins only 1 of 3 non-Asean members

Air Asia is set to launch direct flights from Hong Kong to Bali and Jakarta next month. Photo: Getty Images

According to Indonesia’s official data, 3,550 Hong Kong passport holders arrived in July and stayed an average of just two nights. Photo: Bloomberg

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Indonesia’s consul general in Hong Kong, Yul Edison. Photo: Warton Li

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The Jakarta skyline. Hong Kong imported around US$3.1 billion of goods from Indonesia in 2022. Photo: Bloomberg

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) and Chief Executive John Lee during a meeting in Jakarta last year. Photo: Handout

Consul General Yul Edison says the city’s uniqueness lies in its blend of nature and culture, as well as technology and tradition. Photo: Warton Li

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News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Commerce chamber welcomes move to cut ‘friction’ for investors, as city joins select list of places able to enjoy visa-free travel to Indonesia.


Indonesia