Visa policy untimely

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.