Entrance ports ready for new visa policy<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang, Banten<\/p>\n
Two weeks prior to the implementation of the new visa policy on
\nFeb. 1, international airports and seaports throughout Indonesia
\nappear to have completed their preparations.<\/p>\n
At the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday, a row
\nof three counters has been erected at the arrival gate for
\ninternational flights.<\/p>\n
During a trial run at the airport on Tuesday, Minister of
\nJustice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra expressed his
\nsatisfaction with the preparations.<\/p>\n
\"There will be no more debate over the new visa policy. I
\nanswered all the questions posed by the tourism industry during a
\nrecent discussion ... They finally agreed that the policy will
\nproceed.\"<\/p>\n
The new policy cuts the length of stay of tourists able to
\ncontinue availing of the free-visa-on-arrival facility from 60
\ndays to 30 days. The new pay-on-arrival visa will also only allow
\nvisitors to stay for 30 days. A tourist has to pay US$25 for a
\n30-day visit and $10 for a three-day visit.<\/p>\n
The pay-on-arrival visa will be required of visitors from over
\n20 countries.<\/p>\n
Among these countries are the United States, Argentina,
\nAustralia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
\nGermany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,
\nSouth Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates
\nand Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the citizens of other countries that currently
\nprovide visa-free facilities to Indonesian tourists will continue
\nto be given visas-on-arrival free of charge. These countries
\ninclude Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the
\nPhilippines, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao
\nSpecial Administrative Region, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
\"The new policy will enable us to better monitor foreigners
\nentering the country and their activities here,\" Yusril claimed.<\/p>\n
The tourism industry has been vehemently opposed to the new
\npolicy, and has not been assuaged by claims that the revenue
\ngenerated from tourists will be used to help finance the
\ngovernment's antiterrorism campaign in a bid to improve the
\ncountry's poor security image.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/entrance-ports-ready-for-new-visa-policy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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