Summary
Around 220,000 British nationals visit Indonesia every year. Most visits are trouble free.
There is a high threat from terrorism. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country. You should be particularly vigilant during holiday periods such as Easter, Christmas, New Year, Nyepi (Balinese New Year, 21 March) and Independence Day (17 August). See Terrorism.
During the morning of 14 January there were explosions and gunfire reported in the vicinity of the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel and Sarinah Plaza on Jalan Sudirman Thamrin, Jakarta in central Jakarta. You should avoid the affected area, limit your movements and follow the advice of local authorities.
You should exercise caution when travelling to Aceh, Central Sulawesi Province (especially Palu, Poso and Tentena), Maluku Province (especially Ambon), Papua and West Papua Province due to potential for violence or violent conflict.
Clashes in late July 2014, resulted in the death of security service personnel and civilians in the Lanny Jaya regency of Papua province. If you’re travelling in the region you should exercise extreme caution.
Following the abduction of a British national in the Aceh region of Northern Sumatra in June 2013, you should exercise caution in the area. While the risk of abduction is not high, you should be aware that 1 French national and 5 Chinese nationals were abducted in separate incidents in 2008. See Local travel
Possession, trafficking and manufacture of drugs are serious offences in Indonesia. Some offences carry the death penalty. Don’t get involved. See Local laws and customs
Indonesia sits along a volatile seismic strip called the ‘Ring of Fire’. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur regularly and tsunamis are possible. Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly. See Natural disasters
With the exception of Garuda Airlines, Mandala Airlines, Airfast and Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua (operating as PremiAir) and Indonesia Air Asia, all other Indonesian passenger airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because of safety concerns. See Air travel
There have been a number of deaths and cases of serious illness of tourists in Indonesia, caused by drinking alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol. See Safety and security
The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.
Travel Summary
- On 17 July 2009 suicide bombers carried out attacks against the Ritz Carlton and Marriott Hotels in Jakarta. Seven people were killed and 55 injured.
- There are a number of confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) – Swine Flu in Indonesia. The Indonesian Ministry of Health has announced that all passengers arriving in Indonesia from H1N1 affected countries will be asked to undergo medical screening. Anyone arriving with a temperature is likely to be taken to a nearby hospital for tests and will have to remain in hospital until given the all-clear. Quarantine for persons found infected with the virus will last for two weeks. The authorities would inform the British Embassy of any British nationals affected by these measures. Travellers should monitor the Indonesian Embassy website at http://www.indonesianembassy.org.uk/ for any further measures the Government of Indonesia may introduce.
- The Pandemic Threat Alert System of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is at Level 6. The WHO website at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated “Swine Flu” page on the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/swine-flu. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk.
- We advise you to exercise caution when travelling to Aceh, Central Sulawesi Province (especially Palu, Poso and Tentena), Maluku Province (especially Ambon) and Papua (including Papua province and West Papua Province). Since 11 July at least three people have been killed and a number injured in armed attacks on vehicles travelling between Timika and Tembagapura towns in Papua. You should be alert to the potential for politically motivated violence. See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
- There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Indonesia. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks at any time and any where in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Terrorist attacks in Jakarta on 17 July and in Bali in October 2005 and October 2002 killed and injured a number of British nationals. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details of previous attacks and precautions that you should take.
- With the exception of Garuda Airlines, Mandala Airlines, Airfast and Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua (operating as PremiAir), all Indonesian airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because Indonesia is unable to ensure that other airlines meet international safety standards. It is recommended that you avoid flying with Indonesian carriers subject to the EU operating ban. See the Air Travel section of this advice for more details.
- Indonesia sits along a volatile seismic strip called the 'Ring of Fire' and volcanic eruptions, earthquakes occur regularly and tsunamis are possible. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice for more details.
- Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Indonesia have led to over 100 reported human fatalities. The last confirmed fatality was in January 2009. See the Health (Avian Influenza) section of this advice and also Avian and Pandemic Influenza for more details.
- Around 150,000 British nationals visit Indonesia every year (Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)). 2,294 British nationals required consular assistance in Indonesia in the period 01 April 2006 – 31 March -2007. The main types of incident for which they required consular assistance were for replacing lost or stolen passports (44 cases); dealing with deaths (2 cases); and hospitalisations (25 cases); and dealing with arrests, for a variety of reasons (18 cases). Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe and can include the death penalty.
- We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Indonesia. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks at any time and any where in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
Terrorists have shown that they have the means and motivation to carry out successful attacks in Indonesia. On 17 July 2009 suicide bombers carried out attacks against the Ritz Carlton and Marriott Hotels in Jakarta. Seven people were killed and 55 injured. JI is believed to have been responsible for the Bali bombings in October 2002, which killed 202 people (including a number of British nationals), the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta which killed 12 people in August 2003, and the Australian Embassy bombing in September 2004, which killed 11 people; and the Bali suicide bombings of 1 October 2005 which killed 20 people and injured a further 90.
These attacks underscore the ongoing terrorist threat in Indonesia. Venues known to be frequented by foreign visitors and expatriates, including beach resorts, bars and restaurants, hotels and shopping malls hosting major international brand outlets are potentially targets for such groups.
There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Indonesia. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks at any time and any where in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
Terrorists have shown that they have the means and motivation to carry out successful attacks in Indonesia. On 17 July 2009 suicide bombers carried out attacks against the Ritz Carlton and Marriott Hotels in Jakarta. Seven people were killed and 55 injured. JI is believed to have been responsible for the Bali bombings in October 2002, which killed 202 people (including a number of British nationals), the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta which killed 12 people in August 2003, and the Australian Embassy bombing in September 2004, which killed 11 people; and the Bali suicide bombings of 1 October 2005 which killed 20 people and injured a further 90.
These attacks underscore the ongoing terrorist threat in Indonesia. Venues known to be frequented by foreign visitors and expatriates, including beach resorts, bars and restaurants, hotels and shopping malls hosting major international brand outlets are potentially targets for such groups.
If you are visiting, or are resident in Indonesia, you should exercise caution at all times. We advise you to ensure that you are comfortable with, and regularly review, you and your family’s security arrangements.
You should be particularly vigilant during holiday periods such as Easter and Christmas, which can be a time of heightened tensions in Indonesia. In the past, attacks have occurred during holiday periods in Indonesia. In recent years, the Indonesian Police have announced tightened security in public places such as airports and major tourist areas over the Christmas and New Year period. You should exercise caution when visiting locations where large groups of people gather or which are known to be frequented by foreigners. If you are planning to travel overland or by boat to Malaysia or the Philippines, you should be aware that Philippines based terrorist groups also pose a risk. We advise against all travel to Mindanao, in the Philippines because of ongoing terrorist activity. Foreign nationals have also been kidnapped in the past in East Malaysia and we believe that this threat remains. Please see the FCO Travel Advice for Philippines and Malaysia.
You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
For further information see Terrorism Abroad.
Crime
You should beware of street crime and pickpockets. Take personal security measures such as:
You should beware of street crime and pickpockets. Take personal security measures such as:
- Taking particular care to safeguard your passport and credit/ATM cards. We receive regular reports of credit card theft after shop employees copied card details. You are advised not to lose sight of your credit card during transactions. In June 2009, police sources in Jakarta warned of a new form of fraud targeting bank customers who experience problems withdrawing cash from ATMs. The fraudsters reportedly display a fake assistance number on the ATM advising customers to report problems by telephone. Customers dialing the number are asked for their PIN and their card is never released from the machine.
- Beware of thieves while travelling on public transport. We receive regular reports of extortionate fares or robberies by unlicensed airport taxi drivers. Their vehicles are usually in poor condition, are unmetered, and do not have a dashboard identity licence. When taking a taxi, use one from a reputable firm, preferably booked by phone or arranged by your hotel, or booked by a registered taxi firm inside the airport. British Embassy, Jakarta, staff are advised to use only taxis from the Bluebird and Silverbird group. These are widely available at hotels and shopping malls in central Jakarta and at Sukarno-International Airport. Care should be take to distinguish Bluebird and Silverbird vehicles from "look-alike competitors. For further details see: http://www.bluebirdgroup.com/taxis_in_jakarta.html.
- For longer journeys it is a sensible precaution to notify friends of travel plans, contact them on arrival and where possible travel in convoy. Always carry a reliable means of communication with you. Keep doors locked at all times and avoid travelling alone.
- We receive occasional reports of tourists who have been robbed after bringing visitors to their hotel rooms. In some cases their drinks were drugged and the Indonesian National Police have reported an increase in drink-spiking incidents in 2008. In June 2009 the Indonesian National Police began investigating a series of tourist deaths on Bali and Lombok (Gili Islands), including one British citizen. Their deaths may have been caused by drinking the traditional rice wine, arak, spiked with methanol. Arak is often used as a base for cocktails. If possible, seek local advice about reputable bars in the area which you are visiting and try to ensure that cocktails are prepared in your sight. Ensure your passport and wallet and other valuables are secure at all times.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Whilst the overall political situation is stable, developments elsewhere, including the Middle East, resonate in Indonesia. You should follow news reports and be alert to any developments which might trigger public protests or unrest.
You should avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people. If you become aware of any nearby violence you should leave the area immediately. You should keep yourself informed of developments, including by regularly checking this advice.
Indonesia Country Profile
Local Travel
You should ensure that you have the necessary permits when planning adventure trips in Indonesia. You should also ensure that you have a reliable and reputable guide in place for such a trip. Failure to do so can lead to difficulties with local authorities should you need their help.
Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly during the rainy season from November to March. Cities - especially Jakarta - are frequently subject to severe localised flooding which can result in major disruption, and occasionally fatalities. Previous floods in Jakarta have affected a main toll road to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. You should allow extra time for meeting flight connections in line with the prevailing weather conditions.
Local Travel
You should ensure that you have the necessary permits when planning adventure trips in Indonesia. You should also ensure that you have a reliable and reputable guide in place for such a trip. Failure to do so can lead to difficulties with local authorities should you need their help.
Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly during the rainy season from November to March. Cities - especially Jakarta - are frequently subject to severe localised flooding which can result in major disruption, and occasionally fatalities. Previous floods in Jakarta have affected a main toll road to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. You should allow extra time for meeting flight connections in line with the prevailing weather conditions.
Our additional advice for British nationals in Indonesia who are travelling outside Jakarta is as follows:
Central Sulawesi Province
We advise you to exercise caution when travelling to Central Sulawesi Province, especially Palu, Poso and Tentena because of the unsettled political situation. You should be alert to the potential for politically motivated violence.
Sectarian violence broke out in Central Sulawesi Province in 1998, which claimed almost 600 lives between 1998 and 2001. A peace deal signed in December 2001 dramatically reduced sectarian conflict in the region. From 2003-2006 violence continued in the form of bombings and assassinations, predominantly in the towns of Poso and Palu. Since 2007 the situation has been much calmer but sporadic incidents continue to occur.
Maluku Province
We advise you to exercise caution when travelling to Maluku Province, especially Ambon, including Haruku Island (Pulau Haruku), which was the scene of serious civil unrest between different religious and tribal gorups between 1999 and 2002. The region has continued to experience sporadic unrest, which has resulted in a number of deaths and serious injuries.
Aceh
We advise you to exercise caution when travelling to Maluku Province, especially Ambon, including Haruku Island (Pulau Haruku), which was the scene of serious civil unrest between different religious and tribal gorups between 1999 and 2002. The region has continued to experience sporadic unrest, which has resulted in a number of deaths and serious injuries.
Aceh
We advise you to exercise caution when travelling to Aceh, especially if travelling to remote areas. Aceh is emerging from a long period of internal conflict. You should remain alert to the risk of politically motivated violence.
If you are visiting Aceh, you should make sure that you are well informed about the local situation at the time of your visit. You should avoid large crowds, demonstrations or political rallies, as elsewhere in Indonesia.
We have in the past received reports of Shari'a (religious) police harassing foreigners in Aceh. You should therefore exercise caution and ensure that your behaviour does not offend local sensitivities.
If you are travelling to Aceh to engage in humanitarian or reconstruction work, you should do so in conjunction with a well-established and reputable organisation that has permission to operate in Indonesia. You should ensure that your organisation has a security plan approved by the Indonesian authorities, and is actively linked to the local security advice of the UN Office for Crisis and Humanitarian Affairs in Banda Aceh.
You should ensure that you comply with local immigration controls and register with the police. Regulations regarding entry into and permission to remain in Aceh can change at any time. You should check with the Indonesian Embassy in London prior to travel to obtain the most recent information on entry requirements and registration procedures while in Aceh.
Aceh continues to suffer the after-effects of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Reconstruction work is largely complete, roads, medical care and accommodation facilities for visitors in the western and northern coasts of Sumatra and outlying islands are still being improved.
Papua and West Papua
We advise you to exercise caution when travelling to Papua (including the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya Barat) and to seek local advice on your travel plans. Political tensions in Papua have given rise to sporadic violence. There is a heavy security presence in some areas, especially along the border with Papua New Guinea. If you are visiting Papua, you should exercise caution. As elsewhere in Indonesia, you should avoid large crowds and demonstrations, which can turn violent.
Papuan separatists have kidnapped foreigners in the past. There remains a small but significant risk.
Throughout 2009 there have been increased tensions in Papua province. Since 11 July a series of armed attacks on vehicles using the main road between Timika and Tembagapura have resulted in at least three deaths and a number of injuries. During April and May 2009 there were a series of incidents = including small-scale attacks on police and military posts in the Abepura and Jayawijaya districts, as well as a number of civilians killed in the vicinity of Wamena town. On 6 May protestors blocked the main road linking Sentani airport to the provincial capital Jayapura following the shooting of an individual after an altercation between a group of local residents and the police.
Throughout 2009 there have been increased tensions in Papua province. Since 11 July a series of armed attacks on vehicles using the main road between Timika and Tembagapura have resulted in at least three deaths and a number of injuries. During April and May 2009 there were a series of incidents = including small-scale attacks on police and military posts in the Abepura and Jayawijaya districts, as well as a number of civilians killed in the vicinity of Wamena town. On 6 May protestors blocked the main road linking Sentani airport to the provincial capital Jayapura following the shooting of an individual after an altercation between a group of local residents and the police.
Permits are required to travel to Papua Regulations for entry into and permission to remain in Papua can change at any time. You should seek the latest information on entry requirements and registration procedures from the Indonesian Embassy in London.
Road Travel
You cannot drive in Indonesia on a UK driving licence, but are permitted to use an International licence which can be obtained in Indonesia. An International licence is obtained in the UK it may need to be endorsed by the Indonesian licensing office in Jakarta.
Traffic discipline is very poor; city streets are congested; and foreigners involved in even minor traffic violations or accidents may be vulnerable to exploitation. You should therefore think seriously about employing a private driver or hiring a car with a driver, which is not especially expensive. Some multinational companies refuse permission to their expatriate staff to drive in Indonesia. British Embassy, Jakarta, staff are advised to avoid driving themselves whenever possible.
Should you be involved in an incident such as an accident or breakdown you should ensure someone remains with your vehicle. You may wish to consider leaving your driver, if you have one, in charge of your vehicle in such circumstances, if you have any concerns for your security and can move to another location safely. You should make yourself available for questioning by the police if requested to do so.
Reports suggest that motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in road accidents than those driving cars.
For further information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
You should be aware that there have been a number of major aircraft crashes in Indonesia over the last ten years, for reasons including bad weather, poor maintenance and mechanical failure. The most recent major incident occurred on 7 March 2007, when an aircraft burst into flames on landing in Yogyakarta, Java, killing over 20 people.
With the exception of Garuda Airlines, Mandala Airlines, Airfast and Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua (operating as PremiAir) all Indonesian airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because Indonesia is unable to ensure that all its airlines meet international safety standards. It is recommended that you avoid flying with Indonesian carriers subject to the EU operating ban.
You should be aware that there have been a number of major aircraft crashes in Indonesia over the last ten years, for reasons including bad weather, poor maintenance and mechanical failure. The most recent major incident occurred on 7 March 2007, when an aircraft burst into flames on landing in Yogyakarta, Java, killing over 20 people.
With the exception of Garuda Airlines, Mandala Airlines, Airfast and Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua (operating as PremiAir) all Indonesian airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because Indonesia is unable to ensure that all its airlines meet international safety standards. It is recommended that you avoid flying with Indonesian carriers subject to the EU operating ban.
A list of carriers banned from the EU can be found at the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm.
If you already have a flight booked with an airline from Indonesia and it is part of a journey which commenced in the EU you should consult your travel agent.
British Government employees are advised to use carriers which are not subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the EU unless this is unavoidable. You should bear this in mind when making your travel plans.
When leaving the country by plane, departure tax varies by Airport from 60,000 to 150,000 Rupiah. You will need to pay an Airport Tax of 150,000 Rupiah if departing through Jakarta International Airport, or from Bali International Airport.
Sea Travel
Inter-island travel by small boats can be dangerous as storms appear quickly and navigational equipment is often limited. There have been attacks against ships in and around the waters of Indonesia. Mariners are advised to be vigilant; reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard; and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.
There have been a number of instances of passenger boats sinking in Indonesia. Most recently, on 11 January 2009, a passenger ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew capsized off the island of Sulawesi, reportedly killing 99 people following the rescue of 168 by Search and Rescue and local fisherman.
For more general information see River and Sea Safety
Local laws and customs
You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see Travelling During Ramadan.
You should be aware of offending Muslim sensitivities. Westerners have occasionally been harassed by fundamentalists in bars and nightclubs, particularly around major Islamic holidays such as Ramadan.
Do not get involved with illegal drugs. Possession, trafficking and manufacture of such drugs are serious offences in Indonesia. Those caught face lengthy prison sentences or the death penalty, usually after a protracted and expensive legal process. Police often raid locations (particularly in Bali) known to be frequented by foreigners, and are empowered to compel an individual to take a urine or blood test where they have reasonable suspicion that drugs have been taken, even where no actual illegal substances have been found on the person. Drug use or even the possession of small amounts of drugs such as marijuana or ecstasy can lead to prison sentences longer than four years. Convicted traffickers or users of hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin face the death penalty in Indonesia.
Gambling is illegal in Indonesia. There have been cases where tourists have fallen victim to organised gambling gangs, resulting in the loss of large amounts of money.
You must show evidence of your identity if it is requested by, for example, the Police. You should carry photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport and your arrival card to avoid losing the original, which should be kept in a safe place..
For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
Visas
Visas are required for UK nationals entering Indonesia, a tourist visa can be obtained on arrival for a specific short period. You are advised to consult the Indonesian Embassy in London.
Visas are required for UK nationals entering Indonesia, a tourist visa can be obtained on arrival for a specific short period. You are advised to consult the Indonesian Embassy in London.
Passport validity
You should ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum period of six months upon arrival. Entry to Indonesia may be refused and airlines may not carry passengers holding passports with less than six months validity. You are required to retain you arrival card for presentation to Immigration upon your departure.
Overstaying your visa
Overstaying without the proper authority is a serious matter and visitors can be held in detention or refused permission to leave the country until a fine is paid.
Registering
If you stay in private accommodation in Indonesia (not a hotel) you must register your presence with the local police or you could face a fine of Rp 5 million (£290). If you stay in a hotel you will be registered automatically.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. They may want to see birth certificates, a letter of consent from the other parent or some evidence as to your responsibility for the child. Contact the Indonesian Representation in London for further information.
Health
The standard of local medical care in Indonesia can be poor and some medical tests cannot be done reliably. Good medical care can be very expensive and in remote areas attention for serious injuries or illness is likely to be unobtainable. You may require expensive medical evacuation costing up to tens of thousands of pounds. Therefore you should ensure your policy covers you for medical evacuation by air ambulance.
Indonesia suffers from periodic problems with air quality reaching hazardous levels because of seasonal smoke haze from forest fires. You are advised to check news reports and follow local advice.
Dengue, chikungunya and malaria occur in Indonesia. These diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. There are no vaccinations against these diseases, but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. You should visit your GP to discuss malaria prevention tablets.
There is a risk of rabies throughout Indonesia, in particular in Bali. In December 2008, local officials reported an outbreak of rabies in Bali, following a small number of deaths in the village of Ungasan in Uluwatu district (Badung Regency). In January 2009, the presence of rabies was also confirmed in the Kutah area of Bali. Sanglah Hospital in Bali has prepared a special area to treat people suspected of being exposed to the rabies virus and doctors in other clinics in Bali have been trained to care for potential victims. Two people were reported to have died from rabies at Sanglah Hospital at the end of March 2009. In April 2009, a further outbreak of rabies in wild dogs was reported in Pecatu village, near Nusa Dur. Travellers to Indonesia should avoid contact with animals and seek immediate medical attention if bitten or scratched by an animal. For further information about rabies see the NaTHNaC website.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 270,000 adults aged 15 or over in Indonesia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Indonesia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Indonesia suffers from periodic problems with air quality reaching hazardous levels because of seasonal smoke haze from forest fires. You are advised to check news reports and follow local advice.
Dengue, chikungunya and malaria occur in Indonesia. These diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. There are no vaccinations against these diseases, but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. You should visit your GP to discuss malaria prevention tablets.
There is a risk of rabies throughout Indonesia, in particular in Bali. In December 2008, local officials reported an outbreak of rabies in Bali, following a small number of deaths in the village of Ungasan in Uluwatu district (Badung Regency). In January 2009, the presence of rabies was also confirmed in the Kutah area of Bali. Sanglah Hospital in Bali has prepared a special area to treat people suspected of being exposed to the rabies virus and doctors in other clinics in Bali have been trained to care for potential victims. Two people were reported to have died from rabies at Sanglah Hospital at the end of March 2009. In April 2009, a further outbreak of rabies in wild dogs was reported in Pecatu village, near Nusa Dur. Travellers to Indonesia should avoid contact with animals and seek immediate medical attention if bitten or scratched by an animal. For further information about rabies see the NaTHNaC website.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 270,000 adults aged 15 or over in Indonesia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Indonesia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see Travel Health and for food/drink hygiene see Eat and Drink Safely.
A (H1N1) - Swine Flu
Britons travelling abroad should be aware and prepared for the fact that should they enter Indonesia they may be required to pass through a screening process which identifies persons with high temperatures. Should a person be identified with a higher than normal temperature or display any other flu symptoms, the authorities have the right to place the person in medical quarantine and administer tests for the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus. It may take up to three days for the test results to be known and if found positive the person will be quarantined for a further two weeks. A further test will then be carried out and if all clear the person will be allowed to continue their journey. However if the test is positive the second time, a further quarantine period of two weeks will be imposed. The British Embassy staff has no authority to interfere with a medically imposed quarantine, and due to the quarantine restrictions is unlikely to be able to do more than make contact with the person by telephone. The authorities would inform the British Embassy of any British nationals affected by these measures. Travellers should monitor the Indonesian Embassy website at http://www.indonesianembassy.org.uk/ for any other measures the Government of Indonesia may introduce.
The Pandemic Threat Alert system of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is at Level 6. The WHO website at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details.
You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated “Swine Flu” page on the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/swine-flu. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
There have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in commercial and backyard poultry and a small number of pig farms in Indonesia. Infected birds have been found in all of Indonesia's 33 provinces (most recently in February 2009 in Badung, the southernmost regency of Bali) with the exception of Gorontolo and North Maluku and there are ongoing outbreaks. Indonesia has more confirmed cases of human fatalities than any other country with over 100 reported fatalities (most recently in February 2009). Most human cases had direct contact with sick/dead poultry or were exposed to environments with recent outbreaks of the virus.
The WHO have confirmed that the deaths of seven members of one family in the TanaKaro district of North Sumatra in May 2006, were likely to be the result of limited, non-sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus. However, to date, there has been no evidence of widespread or sustained human-to-human transmission in Indonesia.
The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. However, as a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the Avian Influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form, which is easily transmissible between people.
British nationals living longer term in an Avian-Influenza affected region should speak to their employers about any pandemic influenza contingency plans which they may have in place and take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to essential supplies and adequate healthcare and ensuring travel documents are up to date.
You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.
Natural disasters
Indonesia sits along a volatile seismic strip called the 'Ring of Fire' in the Pacific. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes occur regularly in Indonesia which can, where the severity and conditions of the quake combine, present a potential threat of tsunamis within the region. The 'ring-of-fire' is a horse-shoe-shaped zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that surrounds the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It is 40,000kms long and is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and volcanic mountain ranges and/or plate movements.It is understood that 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire which is a direct consequence of plate tectonics and the movement of collisions of crustal plates.
Earthquakes
Visitors currently planning to visit West Papua Province (formerly West Irian Jaya Province) should be aware that earthquakes which occurred on Sunday 4 January 2009, have caused considerable damage to buildings including hotels in the coastal town of Manokwari, some damage to the airport was also reported. If planning a visit to this region you should check with your tour operator before travelling.
On 16 November 2008 an earthquake struck Gorontalo Province off the northern coast of the island of Sulawesi causing fatalities and structural damage to a number of buildings, and on 12 September 2007 an earthquake in Southern Sumatra resulted in a number of fatalities.
The 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami caused massive devastation to coastal areas in Aceh and parts of North Sumatra.
Floods
Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly during the rainy season from November to March. Cities - especially Jakarta - are frequently subject to severe localised flooding which can result in major disruption, and occasionally fatalities. The collapse of the dam at Lake Situ Gintung on the outskirts of Jakarta on 27 March resulted in the death of 98 people, over a hundred missing and many hundreds of people homeless. Landslides occur in rural areas during the wet season. In December 2007, landslides in Central Java killed over 80 people.
Volcanoes
There are numerous volcanoes in Indonesia, any of which can erupt without warning. Since April 2008, Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi, Mount Egon on Flores island, Nusa Tengarra, Mount Ibu in North Maluku and Anak Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait have shown significant increased volcanic activity.
On Monday 20 April 2009 the Indonesian Vulcanology Agency raised the alert status of Anak Krakatoa to “Warning – eruption possible within two weeks”. Local people have been advised to remain outside of a three kilometre exclusion zone. On 2 June 2009, Mount Karangetang (North Sulawesi) erupted, forcing the evacuation of villagers in the area. If you are planning to visit these areas you should monitor local media reports and follow advice of the local authorities.
You are advised to exercise caution, check news reports and follow local advice before travelling to volcanic areas. The capacity of the Indonesian emergency and rescue services to deal with large natural disasters is limited.
On 14 July 2007 poisonous fumes from Salak Volcano, just south of Jakarta killed six school children who were camping on the Volcano.
For further information, you should visit the Indonesian Centre for Vulcanology's website.
General
Insurance
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions and make sure your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake, particularly if you plan to engage in adventure sports. Good medical attention for serious injuries or illness is likely to be unobtainable in remote areas, and may require expensive medical evacuation costing up to tens of thousands of pounds. You should therefore ensure that your policy covers you for medical evacuation by air ambulance. For more information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.
Registering with the British Embassy
