Bangladesh urges Indonesia to retain VoA for Bangladeshis

Dhaka: Bangladesh has urged Indonesia to retain its Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility for Bangladeshi ordinary passport holders, stressing the strong demand among Bangladeshi tourists to visit the Southeast Asian country.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam made the call during a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati at the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry in Dhaka on August 9.

“The Bangladesh government is attaching importance to retaining the Visa on Arrival status in Indonesia for ordinary Bangladeshi passport holders,” the minister said.

She said there is significant demand among Bangladeshi tourists for Indonesia and highlighted the government’s efforts to develop the country’s aviation and tourism sectors.

The Indonesian ambassador expressed her country’s interest in working together with Bangladesh for the development of its tourism sector.

She also assured that Indonesia would cooperate with the Bangladesh government regarding the continuation of the Visa on Arrival facility for Bangladeshi passport holders.

The meeting also discussed strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two countries in tourism and aviation.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government has taken initiatives to modernize the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute to support the development of the country’s tourism sector.

He said the government is also considering establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bangladesh as part of its plan to develop the country as an aviation hub.

The Indonesian ambassador expressed interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute to contribute to the development of Bangladesh’s hospitality sector.