Want more tourists? Give them free hotel rooms: Minister
Want more tourists? Give them free hotel rooms: Minister
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government appears to be undeterred by a recent massive
demonstration in Bali against the new visa policy and vows to
start charging incoming tourists from countries such as Japan and
Australia with visa fees, starting Oct. 1.
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra on
Friday slammed the protest in Bali as siding with foreigners and
said the government would not back down.
He said his office would soon issue a decree to impose a visa
fee of some US$30 per foreign visitor, excluding those from 11
countries, mostly in Southeast Asia.
"I don't understand (protesters in) Bali. Why didn't they take
side with Indonesia? Indonesia is poor. Why fuss about 30 dollars
(Rp 240,000) charged to foreigners? With only Rp 240,000 they can
visit our country for 30 days.
"If they (the tourism industry community) want Bali to be
festive, why don't they provide free-of-charge hotels? Many
people will go there," he said.
Yusril argued that Indonesians must deposit a non-refundable
fee of around $50 to apply for a short-visit visa at several
foreign embassies here.
"If you want to go to Australia or the U.S, for example, you
must deposit a non-refundable Rp 450,000 just for the visa. You
don't make a fuss about it, although they may reject your request
and then your money is gone," he said.
On Wednesday, thousands working in the tourism industry in
Bali staged a street rally protesting the visa policy. They said
that it would hurt the tourism industry, still recovering from
last year's bombings.
Supporting the rally, State Minister of Tourism I Gede Ardika
called for the postponement of the implementation of a
presidential decree revoking the visa-free-facility to visitors
from 48 countries.
Yusril said that his office would maintain its stance to only
grant visas-free-on-arrival through a reciprocity principle.
The presidential decree, dated March 31, grants free-visas-on-
arrival for a 30-day visit to nationals of 11 countries, namely
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the
Philippines, Hong Kong, Macao, Chile, Morocco, Turkey and Peru.
However, Yusril said that he had suggested the government
withdraw Turkey from the list, as it no longer grants the same
conditions to Indonesians.
Starting Oct. 1, tourists coming from countries -- previously
enjoying the visa-free-facility -- must pay for their visas but
can request to pay on arrival.
Yusril said the amount of the fee would be discussed at a
Cabinet meeting, possibly next week.
"We will discuss the charge for visitors, whether it will be
the same fee for all visitors from all countries (not entitled to
free visas)," Yusril told reporters.
Yusril revealed that his ministry had prepared sophisticated
electronic devices for several international airports and sea
ports in the country to process visa-on-arrival requests from
visitors.
The devices, he said, would enable officers to proceed the
requests within seconds.