Bangladesh seeks Visa on Arrival facilities from Indonesia
AI generated summary, newsroom reviewed
Bangladesh sought Visa on Arrival (VoA) facilities from Indonesia for its ordinary passport holders as Dhaka and Jakarta discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in tourism, hospitality and aviation on Sunday.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam raised the issue during a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati at the ministry. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present.
Afroza said Indonesia is a popular destination for Bangladeshi travellers and that the government attaches importance to securing VoA facilities for Bangladeshi ordinary passport holders visiting the Southeast Asian country.
The Indonesian ambassador expressed her willingness to cooperate with the Bangladesh government in facilitating VoA arrangements for Bangladeshi passport holders.
The two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral relations, particularly through greater cooperation in tourism and hospitality.
Listyowati expressed Indonesia’s interest in working with Bangladesh to help develop the country’s tourism sector.
Millat said the government has taken initiatives to modernise the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) to develop skilled human resources for the tourism and hospitality industry.
He also said the government is considering establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bangladesh as part of efforts to develop the country into an aviation hub.
The Indonesian ambassador expressed interest in signing a memorandum of understanding with NHTTI to strengthen cooperation in Bangladesh’s hospitality sector.
The meeting also discussed broader opportunities for expanding Bangladesh-Indonesia cooperation in aviation and tourism.