Four more cities declared as tourist gateways

Four more cities declared as tourist gateways

JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday declared Banda Aceh,
Bandung, Ujungpandang and Mataram as new tourist gateways, adding
to the 13 cities whose airports are already equipped to deal with
the influx of foreigners.

Director General of Immigration Roni Sikap Sinuraya told
reporters yesterday that the Blang Bintang (Banda Aceh), Husein
Satranegara (Bandung), Selaparang (Mataram) and Hasanuddin
(Ujungpandang) airports are all now staffed by immigration
officers ready to handle incoming foreigners.

The decision was made in anticipation of an increasing number
of foreigners intending to visit the four cities directly, either
for leisure or for business.

However, Banda Aceh is open solely for citizens from the other
five members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN): Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand.

Bandung, Mataram and Ujungpandang will be accessible to
visitors from the 47 countries which enjoy the visa-free
facility.

Visitors from these countries will be granted visas on arrival
for stays of up to two months. The 47 countries include the
United States, all ASEAN countries, virtually all European
countries, selected Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.

Previously, foreigners from the 47 countries could fly
directly to 13 cities in Indonesia: Jakarta, Medan, Pekanbaru,
Batam, Padang, Surabaya, Denpasar, Kupang, Pontianak, Balikpapan,
Manado, Ambon and Biak.

Aceh is being opened up to ASEAN visitors because the area is
now considered part of ASEAN's growth triangle linking the
northern part of Sumatra, Penang island in Malaysia and the
southern province of Thailand.

Greater access

Mataram, Ujungpandang and Bandung will soon be linked with
direct flights from Singapore, following the recent signing of
the bilateral air agreement between Indonesia and Singapore,
giving airlines of both countries greater access to serve various
Indonesian cities and the island nation.

Sinuraya said three seaports in the Riau archipelago, which
are frequented by visitors from Singapore, also have been
declared tourist gateways. Visitors from the 47 countries can
also turn up on these islands and request visas on arrival.

The government is also expanding the scope of the Smart Card,
which allows the holders to visit designated places more than
once, to the islands of Bintan, Karimun Jawa and Belakang Padang.

The card, which contains electronic data and facilitates the
immigration process for the holders, was launched early this year
for the benefit of residents of Singapore and Batam residents who
frequently shuttle between the two islands.

The card's use also will be expanded to residents of Johor,
which along with Riau and Singapore, are joined in the first
ASEAN growth triangle project.

Sinuraya said the government is also improving the format of
the special travel document it issues to Indonesians intending to
work overseas in line with international standards.

The travel document, which has a fixed validity period, comes
with a light green cover.

A pink travel document will be issued to foreigners whose
passports have been lost during their stays in Indonesia, to
allow them to return to their home countries. (imn)