RI, Japan Plan To Open More Direct Flight Routes

Jakarta, Oct 16 (Antara) - Indonesia and Japan are planning to open more direct flight routes connecting cities in both the countries, thus encouraging tourism, Japan`s Vice Ambassador to Indonesia Junji Shimada said here on Wednesday. "We are planning to open flight routes from Jakarta to Kansai and Haneda airports. It is part of our commitment to have more tourists from the ASEAN countries, particularly Indonesia, coming to Japan and vice versa," said the vice ambassador. The Japan government is to ease off entry visa requirements for some ASEAN countries, as per which Malaysia and Thailand nationals will be exempted from visa while Indonesian nationals will get an extension in their period of stay provided they hold a multiple entry visa, official said. "The visa-related policy will be implemented with effect from July 1," Press Attach� of Japan`s Embassy in Jakarta Takayuki Kawai said. The new policy has been formulated as part of the celebrations of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. For Indonesia nationals holding multiple entry visas - ordinary passport holders who reside in their home country - the short-term stay`s duration will be extended from 15 days to a maximum of 30 days. As a result of this step, Japan-Indonesia exchange will be enhanced, including an increase in the number of tourists from Indonesia visiting Japan and further easing of business transactions between the two countries.