New visa policy<\/p>\n
Undeterred by earlier criticisms and oblivious to the sad fate
\nof a long-suffering tourist industry, the Indonesian government
\nfor professed reasons of reciprocity, mutual benefit or security
\nannounced its intention to discontinue its \"visa-on-arrival\"
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
With the exception of 10 countries where Indonesian nationals
\nalready enjoy visa-free entry privileges, only 23 other countries
\nhave been shortlisted for the maintenance of \"visa-on-entry\"
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
If the principle of reciprocity is to be assumed as a reason
\nfor the government's new visa policy, how can this be reconciled
\nwith the fact that 7 out of 15 European Union member countries
\n(United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and
\nFinland) who do not offer \"visa free\" privileges to Indonesian
\nvisitors are nevertheless shortlisted for the maintenance of
\n\"visa-on-arrival\" facilities.<\/p>\n
This would also mean that an Indonesian visitor with a valid
\nFrench visa could freely visit any of the European Schengen
\nagreement countries such as Belgium or Luxembourg whereas
\nvisitors from these countries would be denied \"visa-on-arrival\"
\nfacilities in Indonesia!<\/p>\n
The fact that \"visa-on-arrival\" facilities for 8 European
\nUnion member countries (Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland,
\nIceland, Sweden, Austria and Portugal) are to be abolished is
\noutright discriminatory and the question may be asked why the
\nEuropean Union failed to negotiate a common visa agreement with
\nIndonesia for all its member countries.<\/p>\n
The fact that certain countries should be granted \"visa-on-
\narrival\" facilities while others are not is either inconsistent
\nor outright discriminatory and why should visitors from France or
\nSpain be more welcome than those from Luxembourg or Sweden!<\/p>\n
The present \"visa-on-arrival\" policy has worked perfectly well
\nover the years and I cannot think of any benefits that could be
\npossibly gained by replacing it.<\/p>\n
Older generations of travelers to Indonesia still remember the
\ndays of yore when tourist visas had to be obtained abroad at the
\nprice of lengthy bureaucratic hassles and paper-work, not to
\nmention payments of brokerage and \"facilitation\" fees.<\/p>\n
While other tourist destinations fall over each other to
\nattract foreign visitors, the opposite seems to be the case in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
What Indonesia's long suffering tourist industry needs right
\nnow is a shot in the arm and not another in the back!<\/p>\n
During the month of December I'm expecting six visitors from
\nLuxembourg and for whom \"visa-on-arrival\" facilities would no
\nlonger be available.<\/p>\n
Consequently, they would either have to apply for a tourist
\nvisa at the Indonesian Embassy in Brussels or cancel their visit
\naltogether!<\/p>\n
JOSEPH LOUIS SPARTZ
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-visa-policy-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}