Letters: Poor service at Ngurah Rai Airport

I have recently returned from the latest of many trips to Indonesia since 1967. I am concerned about the increasingly poor welcome tourists are receiving at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali. While aware of the corruption charges against 44 Immigration employees at the airport in the Visa on Arrival scandal, I am more concerned here with the delays in processing new arrivals.

The day I arrived by Garuda from Sydney, on Aug. 13, it took five minutes to be relieved of the US$25 VoA fee, but 1 hour 45 minutes in the immigration queue to have my passport stamped. Only one of the four desks in each queue was manned although several jumbo jets had landed at once. Newly arrived tourists, after long hours of travel, were forced to stand for at least two hours.

This gives a very poor impression to the tourists that Indonesia wants to encourage. I have experienced this situation many times before and friends have complained of similar delays. With the collection of vast sums from VoA fees surely Immigration could employ more staff and give the tourists the warm welcome for which Bali used to be renowned.

Toni Pollard
Sydney