Confusing new visa policy<\/p>\n
Over the last months, the Ministry for Tourism and Culture
\ninvested substantial amounts of money on international television
\nas well as four-page full-color ads in the International Herald
\nTribune in order to promote Indonesia as a tourist destination.<\/p>\n
At the same time however, the government for rather ill-
\ndefined reasons of \"reciprocity and mutual benefit\" decided to
\nabolish its visa-on-arrival facilities for a yet unknown number
\nof countries starting Dec. 1, 2003.<\/p>\n
Incredibly enough and with only a few more weeks to go until
\nthe onset of the peak tourist season in December, the government
\nhas so far not only failed to announce which countries are to be
\naffected by its new visa policy but also to issue details
\nregarding its implementation.<\/p>\n
Illogically enough and for unfathomable reasons, visa-on-
\narrival facilities for eight European Union countries are to be
\nterminated whereas those of the remaining EU member countries
\nwould be maintained.<\/p>\n
In spite of its far-reaching consequences for Indonesia's
\ntourist industry, the issue surprisingly failed to attract any
\nsignificant media interest and until now, neither foreign embassy
\nstaff nor travel agencies are in a position to shed light on the
\nsubject.<\/p>\n
In the absence of visa-on-arrival facilities, visitors from
\naffected countries would have to undergo cumbersome visa
\napplication procedures prior to their departure and it is
\nanybody's guess how many of these would opt for more welcoming
\nand hassle-free tourist destinations instead!<\/p>\n
The visa-on-arrival policy has worked perfectly well over the
\npast years and no tangible benefits, if any, could be achieved by
\nits discontinuation.<\/p>\n
The introduction of \"visa-on-arrival fees\" would be a far more
\nsensible solution and also justified by the fact that most
\nforeign embassies in Jakarta are charging Indonesian applicants
\n\"visa processing fees\" in the first place.<\/p>\n
With the Dec. 1 deadline now approaching fast, the
\ngovernment's new visa policy urgently needs to be clarified if
\nfurther confusion and damages to the country's tourist industry
\nare to be avoided.
\n
\nJOSEPH LOUIS SPARTZ
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/confusing-new-visa-policy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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