Australia and tourism

I write in response to letter by Hugh Paul Bishop published in The Jakarta Post, July 14, 1995.

I assume, Mr. Bishop, you are an expatriate Briton or U.S. citizen working in Indonesia on an expat's massive income.

I feel it necessary to enlighten you a little on Australia's tourism/immigration policy, in particular where it concerns Indonesian nationals, because your self-opinionated article is harmful to our efforts to attract more South East Asian tourists.

As you would very well know, Indonesia's population is approximately 200 million. For most people the purchase of a return ticket is beyond their means, but if a ticket is somehow purchased there is no guarantee that an individual on arrival in Australia will not become a burden on society once there.

I should mention at this point that all illegal immigrants are treated well while their cases are being considered -- ask any of the Indonesian fishermen caught fishing within Australian territorial waters, most of them have never eaten so well in their lives prior to being apprehended, not to mention free medical attention and legal aid.

As there can be no separate rules for Indonesian "haves" and "have-nots" it is most unfortunate that the minority middle classes must be subject to this policy of providing proof of financial independence.

I think, Mr. Bishop, if you check, Indonesians may be subject to similar conditions of entry into Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea or other Asian countries with similar economies to Australia.

You are correct in saying Australians do not need to show proof of funds or indeed apply for a pre-entry tourist visa to Indonesia. Your criticism of Australian tourists is shallow based. True, many of them may live on the cheap to stretch their dollars, but if they find they have no money for whatever reason they cannot expect any assistance from the Indonesian Social Security, but will be helped by our own diplomatic missions and flown home if need be. They are nil cost to Indonesia but they spend their dollars here, whatever the amount.

I believe, Mr. Bishop, your suspicion that more Australians would prefer to live in Indonesia, than vice versa, is unfounded. We like to visit Indonesia for its culture, scenery, friendly people and cheap living, but we are generally always pleased to return to our own country which offers us about the best standard of living compared to its cost of anywhere in the world. Ask foreigners from anywhere in the world who have visited Australia for their opinion -- to say nothing of its many choices of climate.

Hopefully the substance of this letter will naturalize your criticism to some extent and convince Indonesians who are contemplating, and are in a position to visit Australia, to do so. Welcome to the land of the kangaroo.

BOB MERRALLS

Karangasem, Bali