The new visa policy unfortunate for budget tourists

The new visa policy unfortunate for budget tourists

Jenny H. Backstrom, Contributor, Kuta, Bali

Numerous tourists in Bali have urged the government to postpone, or even cancel, the implementation of the controversial visa-on- arrival policy in just three days time.

The policy will certainly affect Bali's tourism industry, which is now competing hard to promote the island over other international tourist destinations such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives and Hawaii in the United States.

Many of those protesting the policy have visited Bali regularly over the years. But despite their obvious fondness for the country, they say that the government's decision has encouraged them to look for alternative holiday destinations. The Jakarta Post interviewed a number of tourists of different ages and nationalities this week on the issue:

Ian Brittan, 31, from England:

I don't think it'll be worth coming back again. Having traveled halfway around the world, 30 days is not enough. This (attitude) goes for so many people... Europeans, Americans, Brazilians... The visa fee would be reasonable if we could stay for 60 days. But 30 days! Every time I have been here I have stayed for two months, like most people I've met and hung out with. I've traveled all over Indonesia to surf, from northern Sumatra all the way to East Timor. Thirty days is not much. Next year, I might go to South America instead. The surf is good there too.

I've been here to surf 18 times in the last seven years.

Tomoo Omori, 22, from Japan:

It is a difficult decision. If the period was 60 days I'd come back for sure, but if it was only 30 days I would have to think it over. I would still love to come back but I am not sure. I am here for six weeks and that is the shortest time I have ever stayed. The longest I stayed was ten weeks in Lombok and Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, on that trip I also had time to surf. I think US$25 for the visa fee is expensive and 30 days is, of course, not enough.

Chen Jung Chin, 56, from Taiwan, is in Bali for the second time with his family:

The visa fee is not so bad, and we would consider coming back to Bali as long as the process at the airport was not going to be a hassle. It takes too long to get through the airport already. The 30-days stay is not a problem. We are here for a wedding and are only staying for four days anyway. The first time we also stayed for three or four days only.

Jenny Cassady, 46, from Australia, is in Bali for the first time enjoying a seven-day holiday with her husband and son:

The visa fee probably wouldn't influence our decision to holiday here in the future, but we are lucky that this time we didn't have to pay the fee. If it was part of a package deal, you wouldn't really notice it, it probably wouldn't make much of a difference.

But, if for example, we had four children, we would really notice the price difference... Bigger families will be the hardest hit. Even so, if they build the fee into the price of the airline ticket this won't be as bad as paying on arrival. Perhaps people will start looking into other options for their holiday in Asia.

Alison Martin, from the U.S., (now living in Singapore), is in Bali for the fourth times with her husband and two children:

I think the visa fee could have a big impact on families on holiday in Bali. We would definitely look at other destinations, but if we really wanted to come to Bali, we'd go ahead and pay the $100.

The limited stay will perhaps not make a difference to the average tourist, but it will hardly encourage people to travel here. I think that if the visa fee was applied to Europeans, then European backpackers would probably not come to Indonesia, or they would think twice about it.

We love Bali. It is a wonderful place to visit. It is inexpensive, the food it delicious and the shopping is good. The new visa policy, I think, is unfortunate for everybody.