VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan affirmed that the government was formulating regulations to enable foreigners to work from Bali while they are on a vacation.

"Those foreigners, with expertise in technology, IT, can work from Bali. We are mulling over that aspect, and we encourage it. We just have to chalk out the rules now," Pandjaitan noted in Jakarta on Thursday.

The government is currently channeling its focus on increasing the number of domestic tourist visits to facilitate the country’s tourism recovery. The government has set a target to increase the contribution of domestic tourists to 70 percent, from the current 50 percent, the minister noted.

"I think that until the end of the year, we will not be allowing foreign tourists. Let us consolidate ourselves. I have notified the president of the vast amount of money owing to no umrah (minor Hajj pilgrimage) now. That is nearly 500 thousand to one million people, who own the funds for Umrah," he explained.

The minister also echoed the government’s intent to cooperate with several international hospitals, so that those heading to Malaysia and Singapore for treatment would no longer need to go abroad.

"We want them to spend that money in the country itself. We are also keen to engage with international hospitals, such as Mayo and Johns Hopkins, or other well-known hospitals, and build them in Bali," he stated.

The presence of international hospitals would also aid in reforming the pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia. To support this, the government is also contemplating on providing easy access to people, who can enter Indonesia, including international doctors.

All these plans will be in keeping with national interests, he stated.