Belarus pushes for direct Indonesia flights following visa-free travel agreement
Belarusian Ambassador Raman Ramanouski says establishing direct air links with Indonesia is a priority after the two countries implemented reciprocal visa-free entry for tourists in July 2026.
Belarus pushes for direct Indonesia flights following visa-free travel agreement
Belarus and Indonesia are working to establish direct flights between the two nations following the implementation of a reciprocal visa-free entry policy that took effect on July 9, 2026, Belarusian Ambassador to Indonesia Raman Ramanouski announced Tuesday.
Speaking at the Belarus Pavilion during the Food & Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2026 expo in Jakarta, Ramanouski emphasized that improved air connectivity represents a crucial element in strengthening tourism ties between the two countries.
"We look forward to opening direct flights between Belarus and Indonesia. Of course, it will require some time and effort, but we will work on it," Ramanouski told reporters.
The visa-free policy emerged from high-level diplomatic meetings between Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on July 2, 2026. The agreement restored visa-free travel for Belarusian citizens after a six-year suspension during which visitors were required to obtain visa on arrival.
Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections added Belarus to its visa exemption list alongside Turkiye, Brazil, Peru, Kazakhstan, and the Macao Special Administrative Region. The expansion came after Indonesia had drastically reduced its visa exemption list from 169 countries to 13 under Presidential Regulation No. 95 of 2024, making the July additions part of a more selective visa strategy focusing on strategic partners.
Belarus has maintained visa-free entry for Indonesian citizens since 2017. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), 10,455 Belarusian visitors arrived in the country in 2025, with Bali remaining their preferred destination. The island province received approximately 6.95 million direct foreign arrivals in 2025, accounting for nearly 45 percent of Indonesia's total international tourist arrivals.
"We expect that as people in Belarus learn more about Indonesia, more will be eager to visit," Ramanouski said, adding that the visa exemption will strengthen both business-to-business and people-to-people connections.
Broader bilateral cooperation framework
The visa and flight initiatives form part of an extensive cooperation roadmap covering trade, industry, agriculture and investment through 2030, which the two presidents approved during their July meetings. Bilateral trade between the nations exceeded $600 million in 2025, with Belarusian exports showing 10 percent growth in the first five months of 2026.
Trade cooperation includes Belarusian exports of potash fertilizers, powdered milk, whey, and agricultural machinery, while Indonesia supplies rubber, seafood, and cocoa beans to Belarus. The commercial relationship provides additional rationale for direct flights beyond tourism purposes.
Indonesia also plans to open an embassy in Minsk, the Belarusian capital with a population of approximately 1.995 million, further strengthening diplomatic presence between the two countries.
The push for direct air connectivity comes as Indonesia recorded 15.39 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, representing a 10.80 percent increase from the previous year and the highest level in six years. The tourism sector's growth trajectory reinforces the strategic value of expanding visa-free arrangements and improving air links with key partner countries.