Abolishing visa
\nfree facility<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post of Aug. 31 reported a proposal from the
\nDirectorate General of Immigration to end the visa free visit
\nfacility for nationals of most countries.<\/p>\n
The advantage of this idea is that it would fill the coffers
\nof the immigration department.<\/p>\n
The disadvantage is that tourists would be deterred by the
\nextra expense and the expected inconvenience, considering
\nIndonesia's reputation as a corrupt country and the knowledge
\nthat immigration departments everywhere tend to be obstructive
\nand bureaucratic.<\/p>\n
The worst affected areas would be those which depend on
\ntourism, such as Bali. A decline in tourism could stem the flow
\nof job-seeking migrants from Java to Bali but Balinese themselves
\nwould find it hard to leave the island in search of employment.<\/p>\n
They could not come to Jakarta, due to Governor's Sutiyoso's
\nstrategy to make Jakarta wealthy by booting out anybody who is
\nnot wealthy. Nor could they go to Malaysia, whose government is
\nnow complementing the Indonesian government policy to drive poor
\nIndonesians out of employment.<\/p>\n
An alternative proposal from the Ministry of Tourism is to cut
\nthe visa free visit period from sixty to thirty days as the
\n\"average length of stay for foreign tourists is between 10 days
\nand 12 days\".<\/p>\n
Whatever the exact figures are, it is clear that if this cut
\nis made, tourists who would stay for thirty to sixty days will
\nvisit either for less time or not at all. The average length of
\nstay will drop. Unless we believe that tourists who are only
\nallowed to stay half as long will spend their money twice as
\nfast, tourist receipts will also drop.<\/p>\n
This will hit hardest in remote areas that have little chance
\nof attracting short-stay tourists, such as Alor, Sumba or the
\nTogian Islands.<\/p>\n
Large hotel chains probably have enough lobbying power to
\nprevent the abolition of the visa free facility. But small
\nbusinesses in remote parts of Indonesia hardly make enough money
\nto sew a decent suit for Jakarta politicians, let alone line the
\npockets. So the proposal to shorten the visa free visit period
\nhas a much better chance of adoption.<\/p>\n
JOHN HARGREAVES<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abolishing-visa-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }