Visa policy untimely

With the introduction of a more restrictive visa policy on February 1, it was a relief to hear that things passed off more or less OK at the main gateways to the country in Jakarta and Bali -- although the authorities must ensure that all guests are properly informed of the requirement of the pay-on-arrival visa.

The new policy trims the number of countries enjoying visa- free facilities from 48 to 11. No wonder the tourism ministry was initially at odds with the policy, which was initiated by a number of ministries, including those dealing with foreign affairs and justice.

The nation's dignity and pride were among the reasons cited for the new policy. Others were security concerns, the need to raise funds to fight terrorism, as well as reciprocity in diplomacy.

These are all sound reasons; there is nothing wrong with them. The same with the pay-on-arrival visa. It is common practice in many countries. The trimming of the period of stay, from 60 to 30 days, is also the prerogative of a sovereign country. What alarms us is the timing of the policy.

Hasn't the country yet to recover from its prolonged economic crisis? Doesn't it still have a huge foreign debt? Aren't there some 40 million people without jobs? Won't the new policy jeopardize efforts to revive the country's tourism, reeling after the 2002 Bali bombings? Won't the policy undermine the country's competitiveness in tourism against its neighboring countries?

Tourism is a labor-intensive industry with a huge multiplier effect. Numerous businesses, ranging from handicrafts to hotels, depend on it. Doesn't it sound risky to reduce the steady flow of some four million to five million tourists into the country every year, bringing with them US$4 billion-worth of foreign exchange?

At a time when the rupiah is grossly depreciated against foreign currency, Indonesia looks like a tourism paradise more than ever. For the same amount of money, Indonesia offers a lot more compared with other countries. One can stay in a very comfortable room, say in Bali or Yogyakarta, and eat good food, all for less than US$100 per day.

Of course, tourism has a negative impact. Often it causes environmental damage, commercialization of goods and services, and erosion of traditional culture, apart from the benefits it brings to a country.

The government's concern over security is understandable, especially after two recent terrorist attacks. Visitors can always abuse their visas by working or involving themselves in drug trafficking. But are these vices, which plague other countries as well, reason enough to issue the new policy? The losses that accrue from the new policy will very likely dwarf the benefits of keeping the 20-year-old policy.

There has been at least one positive impact of foreigners coming in droves to Indonesia in the last decade or so, and this is discernible only through astute observation. One could ask, who is behind the surge in the garment industry in Bali? Foreigners. What they have been doing throughout the years boils down to an enhancement of product quality to international standards. Carving a niche in an international market is an arduous task. At a minimum, it requires nothing less than discipline. It is a prerequisite to maintaining quality standards or prescribed shirt or gown sizes. Workers in Bali are learning this skill from foreigners.

The transformation of what used to be the sleepy town of Kuta in Bali into a place with a long row of small shops, dubbed the longest shopping center in the world, is testament to the success of the Balinese in going global. Who is behind this success? Foreigners, notably Australians, one of the 37 nationalities whose free-visa facility has been scrapped.

The 12-kilometer stretch of shops in Kuta is mostly small shops, implying that hundreds of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs are at work. This is not the business of a single or a few business tycoons.

The trend toward "going global" has also found its way to Yogyakarta, as workers in the city continue to improve their products and have learned that they have a place in the international market. The recent boost to the image of Jepara, Central Java, long known as a center of excellence for furniture making, from having a nationwide to an international reputation, would have been unimaginable without the presence of foreigners.

Needless to say, foreigners also play a part in all this encouragement of development. This does not mean that locals contribute nothing, but they have benefited from foreigners introducing their product to the international market.

The new policy, in effect, will shift earnings from ordinary people's pockets to the state's coffers due to the $10 to $35 fee per visa. This comes at a time that people are in dire need of whatever small earnings they can lay their hands on to support their dwindling quality of life.

The new policy is a good one, except that it fails to consider the question, "Don't we need tourists more than they need us?"

The dignity and pride of a nation can be restored in a variety of ways. They can come from a stride in its scientific and technological development to its ability to curb corruption; from its citizens winning a Nobel prize to establishing an untainted judicial system.

Putting obstacles in the way of foreigners who wish to visit our country seems completely counterproductive at present.