Who is out to
\ndestroy tourism?<\/p>\n
Anger, confusion and disbelief -- this is what the tourist
\nindustry, as well as the expatriate community, experienced
\nrecently, when the Indonesian government revoked the visa-free-
\nentry for tourists from 48 countries.<\/p>\n
New fees, new bureaucratic procedures and red tape -- who
\nwould believe that an ailing tourism industry that employs and
\nfeeds hundreds of thousands of people, could be supported by
\nimmigration regulations that would make it more difficult and
\nunpleasant to visit Indonesia?<\/p>\n
In contrast, arriving visitors to Thailand are offered candy
\nat the immigration counter, and their immigration is processed in
\nless than 3 minutes (I have first-hand knowledge of this).<\/p>\n
The new regulations -- I dare to predict -- will deeply affect
\ntourism and related businesses; small-scale tourism which serves
\nregions beyond the main destinations of Bali and Java, in
\nparticular, will suffer severely. These regions attract younger
\nguests -- budget travelers who tend to stay longer, are
\ninterested in discovering the riches of Indonesia's culture and
\nnature, and who have come a long ways for it.<\/p>\n
The government claims reasons of national security, and there
\nis talk of 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.<\/p>\n
Extremism, communalism, lawlessness and insecurity are home-
\nmade. No foreign power nor foreign individuals are threatening
\nIndonesia's integrity. Drug dealing and illegal businesses, such
\nas smuggling and logging, are police matters and should be
\nhandled by law enforcement.<\/p>\n
No drug smuggler will care about higher visa fees, but the
\nfamily of four who is planning a holiday to Indonesia will
\nreconsider: US$50 per head for an entry visa, the cost of which
\nwould mean more days of accommodation and fun in other countries.<\/p>\n
Developed countries are widely contributing their taxpayers'
\nmoney to support the Indonesian economy. What Indonesian
\nchauvinists tend to forget easily, is that the money the country
\nreceives and spends from the IMF, the World Bank and numerous
\nother agencies and governments is money from ordinary taxpayers.<\/p>\n
My own country, Germany, has granted not only debt-relief, but
\nalso supports various projects all over Indonesia. Most EU
\ncountries are doing the same. So the foreign money is welcome,
\nbut the foreigners are not.<\/p>\n
It is in the national interest of Indonesia to open up to more
\nvisitors, who should be treated as welcomed guests. And if there
\nis a problem of abuse or crime, then it should be a problem for
\nthe police, not for immigration.<\/p>\n
STEFAN REISNER
\nUbud, Bali<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/who-is-out-to-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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