JAKARTA, June 17 (RIA Novosti, Mikhail Tsyganov) - Russian nationals will soon be entitled to visa-free entry. The information comes from Culture and Tourism Ministry of Indonesia. "The government has granted our request to extend the list of countries whose citizens can have their visas drawn at the arrival airport," said Ms. Krismiastuti, director of the ministry East European department.
The day on which the arrangement will enter into force is still uncertain. The Justice Ministry will eventually appoint it, she added.
Indonesian authorities are weighing prospects to spread the privilege to other post-Soviet countries within the CIS-Commonwealth of Independent States.
The usual procedure of visa issuance by Indonesian embassies and consulates in other countries will remain valid, the ministerial officer concluded her statement.
The Culture and Tourism Ministry hopes the simplified entry arrangements will promote Indonesian efforts to enhance the number of foreign visitors to six million, and tourist revenues to six billion U.S. dollars within this year-a goal posed by the national top.
Ministerial statistics highlight a steadily growing number of Russian vacationers, by an annual average 22 per cent. That number exceeded 14,000 last year.
