Indonesia ponders fees for visas on arrival<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra said on Thursday that the government was considering
\ncharging fees for the issuing of visas upon arrival for tourists
\nfrom 47 countries, which have long enjoyed the visa-free facility
\ngranted by Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He said the scheme was being discussed with the office of the
\nCoordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs
\npending a cabinet decision.<\/p>\n
"I think I need to explain the scheme to the public since many
\nmedia organizations have wrongly reported the message," Yusril
\nsaid, while quoting an Oct. 28 article in the Sydney Morning
\nHerald daily entitled "Angry Indonesia hits tourists with tax".<\/p>\n
He also cited an article in the Bali Post, which wrote that
\nthe policy only targeted Australians who had plans to visit
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
He said the government did not have the intention of taxing
\nforeign visitors to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"What we are doing is reviewing the visa-free policy for a
\ntwo-month visit which has been applied to 47 countries," Yusril
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesians had been receiving unfair treatment as
\nthey had to pay for their visas, while the citizens of the 47
\ncountries could enter Indonesia for free.<\/p>\n
He cited visa applications to the Australian Embassy, where
\nIndonesians have to pay Rp 400,000 for their visas and wait for a
\nweek to find out whether their applications have been accepted or
\nnot.<\/p>\n
If their applications were rejected, the money would not be
\nrefunded by the embassy, he said.<\/p>\n
The minister said that with the new policy, Australians and
\ncitizens from other countries could simply come directly with
\ntheir passports without having to secure a visa from any
\nIndonesian government representative office.<\/p>\n
"They can get their visa on arrival," he said.<\/p>\n
Yusril stressed, however, that Indonesia would maintain the
\nvisa-free policy for Turkey, Hong Kong and all the member
\ncountries of ASEAN since Indonesia had reciprocal agreements with
\nthese countries. (01)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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