Controversial visa policy to start February<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After several delays the government announced on Friday that the
\nnew tourist visa policy will be operational on Feb. 1, despite
\nopposition from the tourism and hospitality sectors.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri had approved the presidential
\ndecree on visas.<\/p>\n
The decree grants a visa-free facility to tourists who are
\ncitizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the
\nPhilippines, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao
\nSpecial Administrative Region, Chile, Morocco, Peru or Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Signed by the President on Dec. 17, the decree deleted Turkey
\nfrom the list because it no longer provides a visa-free facility
\nto Indonesians. Vietnam has replaced Turkey since the neighboring
\ncountry decided to offer a visa-free facility to Indonesians
\nstarting Dec. 4.<\/p>\n
According to the decree, tourists who are nationals from the
\nUnited States, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil,
\nDenmark, the United Arab Emirates, Finland, Hungary, the United
\nKingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Norway or
\nFrance are eligible for the visa-on-arrival facility from
\nIndonesia. Citizens of Taiwan are also granted the same facility.<\/p>\n
The new policy cuts the length of the free-visa-on-arrival
\nstay from 60 days to 30 days. The new visa-on-arrival would also
\nonly allow visitors to stay here for 30 days.<\/p>\n
Visitors from countries that enjoy the visa-on-arrival
\nfacility will have to go to a new counter to have their passports
\nstamped with the on-arrival visa before going to the immigration
\nclearance desk.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, visitors with the visa-free facility will be able
\nto proceed directly to the immigration clearance counter.<\/p>\n
Yusril said that it would take only several minutes for
\nimmigration officers to process a visa-on-arrival request.<\/p>\n
\"It may take only seven minutes. It will be faster than (the
\nvisa process) in Shen Zen, which requires two hours to complete a
\nvisa-on-arrival request,\" he said, referring to a city in China.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Directorate General of Immigration Ade E.
\nDachlan said visitors eligible for the visa-free facility could
\nenter Indonesia from almost any entry airport or sea port in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
However, citizens of countries granted the visa-on-arrival
\nfacility could enter Indonesia only via Soekarno-Hatta Airport,
\nJakarta; Polonia Airport, Medan; Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali; Sam
\nRatulangi Airport, Manado; Tabing Airport, Padang or Juanda
\nAirport, Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Seaports available would be limited to Batam; Belawan, Medan;
\nTanjung Priok, Jakarta; Tanjung Perak, Surabaya; Benoa, Bali;
\nSibolga, North Sumatra or Jayapura, Papua.<\/p>\n
\"If they enter the country from other entry points, they will
\nnot receive the facility,\" Ade said.<\/p>\n
He said that the government had not yet decided on the amount
\npayable for a visa on arrival, pending approval from the finance
\nminister.<\/p>\n
\"The Cabinet meeting on Dec. 9 proposed that a three-day stay
\nrequest will be charged US$10, with $25 for 30-day stay. However,
\nwe shall await the finance minister's approval,\" Ade said.<\/p>\n
President Megawati originally signed the decree on the new
\nvisa policy on March 31, and it was supposed to come into effect
\nsix months after the signing. Implementation of the visa policy
\nwas then delayed on Oct. 1 because of the absence of operational
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
Opposition, mainly from the tourist industry, forced the
\ngovernment to delay implementation once again last December.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/controversial-visa-policy-to-start-february-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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