New visa regulation

I wish to respond to your article in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 30, entitled Visa policy discourages Bali tourists.

I am a westerner currently staying in Indonesia and have been coming to this country since 1986, mainly on business. The comments made and the surveys that have been conducted only support my feelings since the introduction of the ridiculous visa restrictions that were imposed back in February this year.

It is no wonder that so many visitors have decided that Indonesia is not worth visiting again. Had those responsible for introducing this latest policy used some common sense --something that is commonly lacking in this country -- they would have extended the stay from 60 days to 90 days, and not reduced it to the current 30 days.

Visitors, whether tourists or businesspeople, spend large sums of money, which this country urgently needs.

If I make a trip to Malaysia, not only do they stamp my passport for a 90-day stay, but they do not charge me a fee for the visa. I do wonder whose pockets the current US$25 goes into, as it is certainly not spent on improving the disgusting and filthy state of the arrival hall at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

These areas have not seen a coat of paint for years, the toilets are smelly and uninviting and the baggage trolleys are years old.

I do hope that the future well-being of Indonesia and it's people is secured, and that the new President curbs the current "head in the sand" attitude of those who should know better and starts making Indonesia attractive and welcome to all.

PAUL KOERNER Jakarta