The Indonesian government will waive visa requirements for another 45 countries by the end of this year, ahead of schedule and bringing the total figure to 90, reported the Antara news agency.
According to the country’s Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, the policy is being expedited following the deregulation of assorted economic policies announced by the government last week.
The visa-exemption policy has helped increase the number of tourists from 5 to 25 percent, he added.
It is expected that the latest policy will help boost the tourism sector in Indonesia by attracting up to 20 million foreign tourists by 2019.
In June, Indonesia waived visa requirements for nationals from 30 countries , helping the country reach its goal of receiving 10 million foreign arrivals this year.
In 2014, Indonesia welcomed 9.4 million international tourists, up 7.2 percent compared to the previous year.-VNA
See more

Veteran Cambodian journalist shares honour to join Vietnam’s reunification anniversary celebration
In recent years, Vietnam's economy has developed rapidly and gained a lot of breakthroughs, with capable leaders and Party members being promoted to important positions, helping the country progress. He emphasised that the country has chosen a right path.

Japanese press: Prime Minister Ishiba eyes stronger ties with Southeast Asian partners
During his visit to Vietnam, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru toured a local industrial park where many Japanese companies operate and expressed his intention to take all possible measures to address the impact of US tariffs on Japanese companies operating overseas.

Thailand affirms its position as Asia’s leading ice cream exporter
Thailand has solidified its position as Asia’s top ice cream exporter and currently ranks fourth globally, leveraging its abundant resources and the benefits of free trade agreements.

Int’l organisations lower Indonesia’s 2025 economic growth forecast
Several international organisations on April revised their economic growth forecasts for Indonesia, reflecting concerns over escalating global trade tensions and domestic fiscal challenges.

Canal Caribe highlights Vietnam’s historic victory
Reporter Wilmer Rodríguez Fernández noted that the city, named after the late Vietnamese leader, was filled with joy and pride on this historic occasion.

Malaysia’s anti-corruption commission seizes over 65 million USD
In the first quarter of this year, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recorded the largest asset seizure value of 177 million RM involving cash and gold bars related to the investigation against former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Azam noted.

Philippines eases entry of digital nomads to boost tourism
The World Economic Forum ranked the Philippines as the seventh fastest-growing remote work hub in the world in 2023

Indonesia uses low-voltage electric fences to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts
The fences deliver a low-voltage electric current of 10 to 20 volts, which is designed to deter animals without causing fatalities, effectively preventing them from approaching the wires.

Malaysia prioritises digital, AI education
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has underscored the critical role of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the nation's future, emphasising the necessity for students to acquire proficiency in these fields from an early stage.

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts 110 times in 8-day furry
The Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, erupted 110 times over just eight days, from April 18-25, according to Indonesia's Geological Agency under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

Cuban recognises outstanding contribution of Vietnamese enterprises
Thai Binh Global (wholly Vietnamese-owned) and Suchel TBV joint venture have been awarded the title of national pioneer unit by the Cuban national industrial federation (SNTI) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to production, trade union activities and social responsibility.

Thai PM targets export origin fraud to protect Thai trade integrity
Over the longer term, the Thai government plans to introduce legal reforms that will impose tougher penalties on companies found guilty of origin fraud.

Indonesia's Mt. Lewotobi erupts
The eruption sent a column of ash up to 3,500m into the sky, with thick grey-to-black clouds drifting westward and northwestward from the crater.

AI to reshape Malaysia’s economic landscape: expert
Globally, 85 million jobs are likely to be lost while 97 million new ones are to be created, demonstrating that strategic workforce management and proactive protective reskilling plans are necessary.

Thailand’s export value strongly surges in March
This marks the 9th consecutive month of export growth for Thailand, reaching the highest level in three years, although steep US tariffs remain a concern, the ministry said.

Indonesia to attend BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the upcoming meeting will spotlight a range of global and regional issues, particularly politics and security, global governance reform, and the role of developing countries (the Global South) in promoting multilateralism.

Thailand plans to inject 500 billion THB into economy
This comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised Thailand’s 2025 GDP growth forecast downward from 2.9% to 1.8%, citing the impact of US reciprocal tariffs. Thailand remains the only ASEAN country whose GDP projection has been cut to below 2%. For 2026, the IMF anticipates a further decline to 1.6%.

Malaysia remains 9th largest global exporter of high-tech products
Malaysia’s high-tech exports increased by 2 billion USD to reach 127 billion USD in 2023. He said high-tech exports comprised 58.69% of total manufacturing exports in 2023, up from 52.48% recorded in 2022.

Latin American media reports on Vietnamese veteran’s inspiring journey
76-year-old Vietnamese veteran Tran Van Thanh's journey is not just a personal story, but has also become a living symbol of the connection between the glorious past and the present, a testament to the deep patriotism and immortal spirit of the Vietnamese people. This story has deeply moved and inspired Latin American readers, evoking admiration and respect.

Thailand’s tourism sees impressive growth in the high season of early 2025
Although there was a temporary decline in tourist numbers following the Songkran holiday in mid-April, the ministry anticipates a rebound, supported by additional flights from Thai Airways, ongoing tourism and sports promotions, and government initiatives designating 2025 as Thailand's "Year of Tourism and Sports".