Who is out to
Who is out to
destroy tourism?
Anger, confusion and disbelief -- this is what the tourist
industry, as well as the expatriate community, experienced
recently, when the Indonesian government revoked the visa-free-
entry for tourists from 48 countries.
New fees, new bureaucratic procedures and red tape -- who
would believe that an ailing tourism industry that employs and
feeds hundreds of thousands of people, could be supported by
immigration regulations that would make it more difficult and
unpleasant to visit Indonesia?
In contrast, arriving visitors to Thailand are offered candy
at the immigration counter, and their immigration is processed in
less than 3 minutes (I have first-hand knowledge of this).
The new regulations -- I dare to predict -- will deeply affect
tourism and related businesses; small-scale tourism which serves
regions beyond the main destinations of Bali and Java, in
particular, will suffer severely. These regions attract younger
guests -- budget travelers who tend to stay longer, are
interested in discovering the riches of Indonesia's culture and
nature, and who have come a long ways for it.
The government claims reasons of national security, and there
is talk of national pride and equality between nations.
Well, it seems that what endangers peace and justice in this
country is entirely of the making of its own people.
Extremism, communalism, lawlessness and insecurity are home-
made. No foreign power nor foreign individuals are threatening
Indonesia's integrity. Drug dealing and illegal businesses, such
as smuggling and logging, are police matters and should be
handled by law enforcement.
No drug smuggler will care about higher visa fees, but the
family of four who is planning a holiday to Indonesia will
reconsider: US$50 per head for an entry visa, the cost of which
would mean more days of accommodation and fun in other countries.
Developed countries are widely contributing their taxpayers'
money to support the Indonesian economy. What Indonesian
chauvinists tend to forget easily, is that the money the country
receives and spends from the IMF, the World Bank and numerous
other agencies and governments is money from ordinary taxpayers.
My own country, Germany, has granted not only debt-relief, but
also supports various projects all over Indonesia. Most EU
countries are doing the same. So the foreign money is welcome,
but the foreigners are not.
It is in the national interest of Indonesia to open up to more
visitors, who should be treated as welcomed guests. And if there
is a problem of abuse or crime, then it should be a problem for
the police, not for immigration.
STEFAN REISNER
Ubud, Bali