RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – South African Minister of Tourism, Patricia De Lille, has called on the Indonesian government to consider opening more flight routes between the two countries, highlighting the importance of stronger air connectivity in advancing bilateral tourism.

“We believe that increasing the number of flights between South Africa and Indonesia will make it much easier for travelers to visit our country,” De Lille said during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, February 5, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

She emphasized that additional direct routes would not only enhance accessibility but also encourage more Indonesians to travel to South Africa. In 2025, around 3,000 Indonesian tourists visited the country, a figure she hopes will grow significantly. “Indonesian visitors will be warmly welcomed,” she assured.

De Lille said that she had discussed the proposal with Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, while also announcing South Africa’s updated visa system. 

“We are pleased to share that Indonesian citizens can now apply for visas online, from home or via mobile devices, with processing times of less than 24 hours,” she said.

In addition, De Lille introduced South Africa as a Muslim-friendly destination. The Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the Muslim Judicial Council to ensure that Muslim travelers can enjoy their visits with comfort and confidence. 

“All Muslim visitors will be respected, and we honor your culture and faith. We hope more Indonesians will decide to visit us,” she added.

De Lille also expressed her delight at visiting Indonesia, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the Indonesian people and create new milestones in tourism cooperation.

On Thursday, May 5, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana and Minister Patricia De Lille, followed by an exchange of souvenirs. 

The signing came after closed-door bilateral talks, where both delegations discussed the progress of the MoU, its expected timeline, and potential areas of collaboration to increase tourism flows between the two nations. ***