Privilage for old tourists

Privilage for old tourists

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will allow elderly foreign tourists to
stay in the country up to one year, a senior government official
has said.

Director General of Tourism Andi Mappisameng said Wednesday
the government was finalizing a presidential decree on the plan.

Among the conditions that potential holidaymakers will have to
meet are adequate bank guarantees and a written statement that if
they die in Indonesia, their body will be flown home.

"But Presidential Decree No. 31 will only apply to elderly
holidaymakers from certain countries with four seasons," Andi
said as quoted by Antara.

He did not specify what the definition of elderly was.

The countries to be listed in the decree are yet to be
determined. West European countries, the U.S., Canada, Japan,
Australia and New Zealand are among those recommended, he said.

"Those countries have a large number of elderly citizens that
can be lured into visiting and spending a lot of money in
Indonesia," he added.

Andi did not say why only people from countries with four
seasons would get the privilege. He only said the government did
not want to see elderly tourists staying on a long-term basis
posing a problem.

Most elderly people in Europe currently take their holidays in
neighboring countries.

"The Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications is
identifying holiday resorts in Java and North Sumatra suitable
for elderly people," Andi said. (pan)