New visa regulation

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