RI says visa-on-arrival facility for Chinese tourists on reciprocal basis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government will issue visas on
\narrival to Chinese tourists arriving in Indonesia only if the
\ncountry does the same thing for Indonesians, a senior tourism
\nofficial said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"The Chinese government must consider our requirements because
\nvisas should be provided under a reciprocal principle," tourism
\nand the arts deputy state minister I Gde Ardika said.<\/p>\n
The law and legislation ministry is formulating a policy to
\nease immigration rules applying to Chinese people visiting
\nIndonesia in response to President Abdurrahman Wahid's official
\nvisit to China late last year.<\/p>\n
Whilst there, Abdurrahman blasted Indonesia's overly strict
\nimmigration regulations for Chinese citizens entering Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and China resumed diplomatic ties in 1990. They had
\nbeen frozen since 1967, two years after an abortive communist
\ncoup that Indonesia claimed involved China.<\/p>\n
Ardika said his office had proposed to the law and legislation
\nministry that Chinese tourists be given a visa free facility, an
\nimmigration incentive, which allows foreigners to stay in
\nIndonesia for a maximum of two months for traveling, conventions
\nand business talks without a visa.<\/p>\n
"But, the facility will be granted only if China does the same
\nthing," he said.<\/p>\n
The visa free facility is currently given to citizens from 48
\ncountries, including the United States, Australia, the
\nNetherlands, Britain, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Kuwait, Malaysia,
\nSingapore, Egypt, Mexico, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
\nEmirates, Greece and Hong Kong, enabling them to enter Indonesia
\nwithout having to obtain a visa prior to arrival.<\/p>\n
Separately, the head of the program and planning division of
\nthe Directorate of Immigration, Taswem Tareb, said, however, his
\noffice was considering reviewing the facility.<\/p>\n
At a seminar on visa facilities for tourists on Tuesday, he
\nsaid that the length of stay allowed for visitors using this
\nfacility would likely be reduced from 60 days to an average of 15
\ndays.<\/p>\n
Taswem also said it was likely that several of the 48
\ncountries currently given visa free facilities would lose the
\nprivilege.<\/p>\n
"We have to review the facility because it has been abused by
\nmany foreigners, who are using it to find jobs here as
\nconsultants, language tutors, lawyers or anything," he said.
\n(cst)
\n`<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-says-visa-on-arrival-facility-for-chinese-tourists-on-reciprocal-basis-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}