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March 23, 2023
JAKARTA – With Indonesia planning to host several international sporting events this year, the General Directorate of Immigration has announced a plan to issue a special “sports visa” to help attract sports fans from all over the world to the country.
“We don’t want Indonesia to miss out on tourism potential due to various sporting events held in the country, so we plan to provide these sports fans with this sports visa,” Immigration Director General Silmi Karim, quoted by Antara, said on Sunday. . .
While Silmi did not reveal details of what this sports visa would entail, he said the Department of Justice and Human Rights, through the General Directorate of Immigration, plans to start issuing the visa by the end of March.
This was announced by the representative of the immigration department Ahmad Nur Saleh. Jakarta Post that Silmi "soon will make a more detailed statement", but did not give a specific timeline.
Silmi's statements were made in connection with the fact that several international sporting events are planned to be held in the country in 2023.
In February, Lake Toba in North Sumatra hosted the first ever Formula 1 Powerboating World Championship race, and Lombok's Mandalika circuit cemented its permanent status on the Superbike World Championship calendar after the third race took place last week. .
But the biggest test won't come until May, when the country is due to host the three-week 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in six cities.
Despite initial doubts about whether Indonesia would be able to host the tournament after the Kanjuruhan tragedy in October, PSSI chairman Eric Tohir said on Wednesday that preparations had already been completed.
“[The tournament] 73 days, and I feel that this is the fastest training that the Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudine Amalie, and I have seen. We had to work a lot together, as tight deadlines are not an excuse, ”said Eric.
To help promote the event, PSSI and the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Wednesday released a series of official U-20 World Cup merchandise in collaboration with local sportswear manufacturer PT Juara Raga Aditya (Juaraga).
Sports ambitions
Zainudin, who formally stepped down as minister on Thursday to focus on his role as vice chairman of the PSSI, said ensuring the success of the U-20 World Cup has been instrumental in realizing Indonesia's global sporting ambitions.
“If this tournament is successful, it could become a launching pad for Plastic bag Eric and PSSI are making a bid for the Senior World Championships in the future,” Zainudin said.
On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo outlined Indonesia's sporting ambitions by saying the country is ready to host the 2036 Olympics in the planned new capital, Nusantara, currently under construction in the country's east. Kalimantan.
Most recently, Indonesian Automobile Association (IMI) chairman Bambang Soesatio announced on 18 February that the association is considering hosting a Formula 1 race in the country.
IMI is suggesting the still under construction Bintan International Circuit in Bintan, Riau Islands, or the new circuit at Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIC), North Jakarta, as two possible locations.
While doubts remain about the feasibility of these proposals, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said he believes in Indonesia's potential as a sports tourism destination.
“Indonesia will continue to actively offer hosting various world-class sporting events. […] We will consistently host FIFA U-20, the FIBA World Cup [Basketball] The World Cup and the World Beach Games are coming soon,” Sandiaga said.
As part of a joint bid with Japan and the Philippines, Indonesia is to host an international men's basketball tournament, the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, in August.
Given the lack of capacity at Jakarta's Histora Senayan Stadium, which can seat around 7,000 people, Indonesia is building a new indoor multi-purpose stadium due for completion in June.
The new stadium, called the Indonesia Arena, is located on the territory of the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Jakarta. “[The new stadium] will be able to accommodate 16,250 spectators and can be used for various sports and other cultural events,” Jokowi said in January.
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