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assengers on state-owned airline company Garuda Indonesia's Tokyo-Denpasar-Jakarta route can now enjoy the newly launched onboard visa application service.

The visa on board service was launched on Feb. 1 by Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik at Ngurah Rai Airport.

"We hope this new service will attract more visitors to Indonesia, as we aim to attract 7 million foreign tourists this year," the minister said.

He made the statement during the launching of the service and welcoming the arrival of Garuda Indonesia passengers boarding from Tokyo's Narita Airport.

"With this breakthrough service, tourists from Tokyo no longer need to queue at the immigration counter, allowing them an easier and more convenient way to arrive in Bali," he said.

Garuda Indonesia and the immigration office conducted a trial operation for the new service on Jan. 21.

Travellers are required to buy visa on board vouchers at Garuda Indonesia's check-in counters in Narita.

The tourists can apply for a seven-day visa for US$10 or a 30-day visa for $25. The 30-day visa can be extended for another 30 days at no extra charge.

Two immigration officers in Garuda flights will check the passengers' passports and later process their visas on board.

After the passengers have been granted visa clearance, they will receive a pass card. The card is then handed to officers at the immigration checkpoints upon their arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali and Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta.

Agus Priyanto, Garuda Indonesia's executive vice president for commercial services, said the company would also provide the visa on board service on Garuda flights from Nagoya's Chubu International Airport and at Osaka's Kansai International Airport later this year.

"We also plan to expand the *visa* service for inbound flights from Korea and China," he said.

Jero Wacik said the new service was expected to boost the number of tourists arriving in Bali, especially those from Japan.

Bali is aiming to attract 2.3 million foreign tourists this year.