Foreign Tourists Must Own US$100,000 Insurance; Sandiaga Uno Explains

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno clarified the government's policy on mandatory health insurance with coverage of at least US$100,000 or Rp1 billion for foreign tourists entering Indonesia. Sandiaga said the coverage must include treatment for COVID-19.

“Every tourist is required to have health insurance to travel abroad. With health insurance, foreign tourists who are not registered as Indonesian citizens can access health facilities properly if they are exposed to COVID-19,” said Sandiaga in a statement on Monday, October 18.

He said the cost of health treatment of foreigners is not the responsibility of the Indonesian government. During their visit, international tourists who are infected with the coronavirus and need to undergo treatment must pay the cost independently.

However, he explained the value of US$100,000 is not the premium that foreign tourists must pay but is the maximum coverage value. The government, he added, has two options of health insurance premium; Rp800,000 and Rp1 million, with the maximum coverage value of Rp1.6 billion to Rp2 billion and a validity period of 30-60 days.

“The benefits of this insurance include the cost of treatment rooms, ICU, treatment costs, doctor visits, and ambulance fees,” Sandiaga outlined.

Indonesia opened its international doors in Bali and the Riau Islands starting October 14, 2021, for some tourists from 19 countries, viz. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Norway. Foreign tourists visiting the country are required to have health insurance, undergo the RT-PCR test three times, and undergo a five-day quarantine.

Read: Foreign Tourists Likely to Swarm Bali in October's End

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA