T

aiwan is expecting more Indonesian tourists to visit the self-governing island with the opening of a Taiwan Visitors Association’s (TVA) branch in Jakarta on Thursday.

Head of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau (TTB) in Kuala Lumpur, Chou Si Pi, said more than 190,000 Indonesians visited Taiwan in 2018.

“TVA and TTB can work together in promoting Taiwan as a major tourist destination in Indonesia with its huge population,” Chou said at the opening, adding that the tourism bureau had adopted the tagline of “Time for Taiwan” in promoting the island.

Meanwhile, head of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Chen Chung, expected more Indonesian tourists to visit Taiwan.

“I hope it can be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled,” Chen said.

Chen said Taiwan was considering a visa-free arrangement for Indonesians.

“Those who have held a [Schengen] visa from Europe, or from the United States, South Korea and Japan in the past 10 years can apply online for a permit to enter Taiwan,” he said.

TVA is an NGO that works together with the governmental TTB in promoting Taiwan tourism, TVA secretary-general Wu Chao-yen told The Jakarta Post.

“We are not only promoting Taiwan tourism but also studying the Indonesian market and its culture on how to attract more Indonesian tourists to Taiwan,” Wu said.