Terminal impressions

Terminal impressions

One of the most consistent and persistent complaints, whether
through letters to the editor or news stories, in this and other
newspapers has been the quality of service at Indonesia's main
port of entry -- Sukarno-Hatta International Airport. Add to this
the many unsavory accounts relayed during private conversations
with both foreigners and locals alike.

Whether it be the behavior of grim-faced immigration officials
taking advantage of obscure regulations to extract U.S. dollar
bribes, or unscrupulous taxi drivers who exploit weary travelers,
for many people their first and last experience of Indonesia is
one of rampant extortion. Accounts of officials making things
more "difficult" for travelers rather than expediting their
passage, and taxi passengers being charged ridiculous fares under
the threat of being dumped in the middle of the road, are all too
familiar.

It is ironic that as Indonesia seeks to boost tourism and
present itself as a country of a thousand smiles, snickering
officials perpetuate the existence of an airport mafia that preys
on weary and unsuspecting travelers. How many times have we heard
about -- if not personally experienced -- the difficulty of
getting a simple, trustworthy taxi at the airport. Without
personal transportation, most people are forced to fork out extra
money for a limousine-style cab in order to avoid the dangers of
using the licensed taxis, whose dubious reputations are
legendary. Oddly, those taxi companies that do have good records
are prevented from picking up passengers at the airport as they
are refused operating licenses. In fact, if these reputable taxis
are caught picking up fares, they will often be chased by
security guards and their passengers forced to disembark.

This scandalous racket has been going on for far too long. The
first or last impression one makes is usually the most lasting.
If the airport management were to allow such practices to
continue unabated, this would make them little more than
accessories to criminal extortion.

We are therefore encouraged by the news that changes are being
ushered in by PT Angkasa Pura II, the new administrator of the
airport. Albeit only setting out, the company has pledged to
review its airport taxi license concessions so as to allow more
responsible taxi companies to operate at the airport.

Under the new system envisaged by the company's managers,
passengers will have the choice of selecting the taxi company
they prefer. Under the old system, passengers were "forced" to
take whichever taxi was next in line. With power in the hands of
the consumers, the new system will compel taxi companies to
ensure better quality control or risk being shunned by potential
fares.

Consumers will also be encouraged to hear that about 70 taxis
from a certain notorious taxi company licensed to operate at the
airport will have their licenses revoked next month.

These changes will begin to be introduced next month. If
successful, we would urge the government to introduce similar
service improvements in all major ports of entry across the
country. One can only imagine the damage to our reputation that
results from foreigners' first impressions of the country as
being one of blatant cheating.

The improvements being made should include expediting
immigration procedures. Frequently, arriving passengers have to
stand in seemingly endless immigration lines simply because there
are only one or two immigration booths actually manned.

The administrators should also rid the terminal of the many
con artists hovering around. Presumably because people usually
carry more cash in hand when about to travel, the airport
attracts a variety of opportunists touting everything from fake
watches to budget accommodation.

These problems should not, in reality, be difficult to
resolve. It is a case of simple, good and honest management on
the part of the airport administrators. Therefore, we can see no
good reason why these sort of improvements should not be speedily
introduced.

Now, if we could only get those brown-uniformed immigration
officials to smile once in a while!