REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Association of Travel Agencies (Asita) predicted free visa for short visits given to 92 countries would increase foreign tourist arrivals by 10 percent.

"The addition of 10 percent will be amazing," said Chairman of Asita, Asnawi Bahar, in Jakarta, Wednesday (11/11).

According to him, the rise in number of foreign tourists would come from emerging markets countries, including China, South Korea and European countries. Opportunity to attract foreign tourists through visa-free policy, he said, should be followed by an increase in flights to Indonesian tourism destinations.

"And infrastructure development to destinations," he added.

Ministry of Tourism stated visa-free policy would increase the number of visits from five to 25 percent, depending on the character of the country. Granting visa-free visits was expected to boost Indonesia's tourism sector, so that the target of 20 million tourists by 2019 could be achieved.

Until last August, the number of foreign tourists visits in Indonesia had reached 6.3 million people or 103 percent of the target set, 6.15 million people. The government was optimistic to realize foreign tourists arrivals in 2015 of 10 million people.

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