Govt shooting itself in foot with new visa policy<\/p>\n
Stefan Reisner, Puri Asri Hotel, Ubud, Bali<\/p>\n
Anger, confusion and disbelief -- that is the reaction of the
\ntourist industry and the expatriate community following the
\ndrastic change in immigration regulations.<\/p>\n
The government recently revoked the visa-free-entry for
\ntourists from 48 countries. The decree means new fees and new red
\ntape -- who would believe that an ailing tourism industry that
\nemploys and feeds hundreds of thousands of people could be
\nsupported by making it more difficult and unpleasant to visit the
\ncountry? In Thailand, arriving guests are offered candy at the
\nairport immigration counter, which they pass through within three
\nminutes.<\/p>\n
These new regulations would deeply affect tourism and related
\nbusinesses -- especially small-scale tourism, which serves
\nregions beyond the main destinations of Bali and Java. These
\nregions also attract younger guests -- budget travelers who tend
\nto stay longer (and they have to, due to traffic conditions).<\/p>\n
These visitors have traveled from far away, interested in
\ndiscovering the riches of Indonesia's culture and nature.<\/p>\n
In explaining the new visa policy the government cites
\nnational security, national pride and equality between nations.<\/p>\n
Well, it seems that what endangers peace and justice in this
\ncountry is entirely of the making of its own people: Extremism,
\ncommunalism, lawlessness and insecurity are all homemade.<\/p>\n
No foreign power nor foreign individual is threatening
\nIndonesia's integrity. Drug dealing and illegal businesses such
\nas smuggling and logging are police matters and should be handled
\nby law enforcement.<\/p>\n
No drug smuggler would care about higher visa fees, but the
\nfamily of four who plans a holiday in Indonesia will reconsider:
\nUS$50 per head for a visa, an amount which in other countries can
\nbe spent for additional days of accommodation and fun.<\/p>\n
It is said that Indonesian nationals are discriminated against
\nby high visa fees and bureaucratic screening. Well, so far it has
\nbeen understood that it is also in the nation's best interest to
\nregulate its labor export and to avoid the embarrassment of a
\nlarge economic migration.<\/p>\n
When it comes to reciprocity, the government has to decide
\nwhat is more important: Mere theoretical principle or the
\neconomic, cultural and political interests of the whole country.
\nThere is no doubt that Indonesia benefits more from foreign
\nvisitors than is burdened by them.<\/p>\n
Thousands of illegal Indonesian immigrants to the United
\nStates have been treated leniently, and given grace periods and
\npossibilities to legalize their status -- and this occurred after
\nIndonesia's diplomatic intervention. So what do U.S. tourists get
\nin return from Indonesia -- if they still care to come?<\/p>\n
Malaysia, however, has expelled thousands of Indonesian
\nmigrant workers in a very inhumane manner -- but has not lost its
\nimmigration privilege.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is also trying to limit the travel of its own
\npopulation by raising exit taxes, which hurt the middle class and
\nthe young.<\/p>\n
Developed countries are greatly contributing their taxpayers'
\nmoney to support the Indonesian economy. Chauvinists here tend to
\nforget easily that the money the country receives and spends from
\nthe International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other
\nagencies and governments, is money collected from taxpayers. My
\nown country, Germany, has granted not only debt relief, but also
\nsupports various projects throughout Indonesia. Most countries of
\nthe European Union are doing the same.<\/p>\n
So it seems the foreign money is welcome, but the foreigners
\nare not.<\/p>\n
It has not gone unnoticed that Indonesia would need much less
\nforeign aid if only it would be willing to reclaim the stolen
\nstate funds from its fraudulent bankers.<\/p>\n
We all know how terribly the hotel industry has been hurt by
\npolitical and criminal incidents in the last two years. There
\nwere many promises, not much money and no compassion at all from
\nthe government to help it to recover.<\/p>\n
In Bali, most hotels are empty and many families have found
\nthemselves out of work. Small entrepreneurs cannot afford to
\nmaintain and repair their hotels and restaurants anymore.<\/p>\n
As a result, there has been a drastic drop in quality -- more
\nand more of the very few guests who stay at such establishments
\nhave complaints. There has been no improvement in service,
\nbeaches are not cleaned properly and even in the holiest of
\ntemples, there are more and more hawkers and crooks to harass
\nvisitors.<\/p>\n
Ironically, the government has no better idea than to propose
\nan entrance fee of $50 for tourists. There is also talk of making
\nhealth certificates mandatory, which are not issued for free and
\nwhich costs are not covered by insurance policies. Expatriates
\nfrom neighboring countries who loved to come to Bali for extended
\nweekends will surely look for other destinations now.<\/p>\n
In Bali, we see visitors who stay for an extended period, such
\nas buyers from Europe and the U.S. They come to buy containers of
\nhandicraft and furniture in the winter months when business in
\ntheir countries is low, and they stay for longer than 30 days.
\nWith the new visa restriction, they will most likely complete
\ntheir purchases faster and shorten their leisure time, and thus
\nspend less.<\/p>\n
And what about conventions and conferences? These days every
\ndollar counts nowadays for event organizers. Interestingly,
\nparticipants of the Pacific Asia Travel Association conference in
\nBali have been reassured that they might be exempted from the new
\nregulation.<\/p>\n
Will this make the tour operators and travel agents turn a
\nblind eye to the effects of the new visa policy?<\/p>\n
There is a lot the government could do: Zoning hotel
\ndevelopments, for instance, as there are far too many hotels
\nalready. Instead, even more hotels are being constructed. Also
\ncrucial are quality control by independent surveyors, and
\neducational and training programs. Environmental programs are
\nneeded to help protect and save historic sites and the natural
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
But now, whenever a new effort is announced and money granted
\n(mostly via donations from foreign countries) the enthusiasm
\nfades when the TV crews have packed up -- and the money
\ndisappears like salt in the ocean.<\/p>\n
The immigration officials are reportedly still working on the
\nfine print for the new regulations. I hope there will be enough
\npublic interest to enforce a reasonable procedure.<\/p>\n
Don't stop at issuing visas on arrival, make them extendible
\n(for a moderate fee). Offer special arrangements for visitors who
\nwant to stay long time, arrangements which are not as
\nridiculously complicated as the existing retirement visas.<\/p>\n
Simplify the business visa regulations by ending the use of
\nsponsors and middlemen. The existing practice only supports
\ncorruption and forces businesspeople to act against the moral
\nprinciples and the laws of their home countries, such as in the
\nU.S. and the EU, which forbids active corruption.<\/p>\n
Indonesia needs to open up their doors to lure more visitors,
\nwho should be treated as welcome guests.<\/p>\n
And if there is a problem of abuse or crime, than it should be
\na problem for the police, not for immigration.<\/p>\n
And government officials should study the example of Thailand:
\nThis country manages its tourism with excellence.<\/p>\n
The writer is the former foreign editor of the German magazine
\nStern.<\/p>",
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