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View all search resultsLetters: Tourists' tax on arrival?
This is in reference to an article titled, "Garuda launches new services to net more Japanese travelers," (The Jakarta Post, Jan
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his is in reference to an article titled, "Garuda launches new services to net more Japanese travelers," (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 22).
Before 2003 any Japanese holidaymaker, as well as many other nationalities could enter Indonesia on a 60 day visa-free facility.
One of the most absurd decrees of the post-Soeharto era, was signed by former president Megawati. This decree introduced the so called "Visa on Arrival", which should rather be called "Tax on Arrival" as it is by definition everything but a visa.
This new procedure was designed to limit the stay in Indonesia for tourists with a non-extendable period of 30 days, but most importantly to collect an amount of between US$10 to 25 depending on the length of the stay from those same tourists.
What could be more insulting and to people who come to visit a country for their holiday and spend their money, while many other competing tourism countries in the region such as Thailand, Malaysia or the Philippines are visa-free for tourists?
Seven years after its introduction, the system remains and the reason for this is very simple: the Indonesian state and its immigration department make so much money out of it, that even SBY, the current President, despite his commitment to modernize Indonesia and make it a more open country, doesn't seem able or willing to do something to abolish this feudal system.
Taxing people's movements is a Middle-Age practice. Complaints against the "Visa on Arrival" policy have been seriously growing, coming even from foreign countries officials such as the Ambassador to Japan in Indonesia recently.
The introduction of immigration clearance onboard Garuda flights from Japan is the only emergency reply to these complaints from the Indonesian government. Nobody is blind. This is yet just another scam. If the "Visit Indonesia 2008 and 2009" promotion campaigns were a success, 2010 may be the beginning of a serious downturn for the Indonesian tourism industry.
This Indonesian government should abolish the "Visa on Arrival" policy, restore the previous rules and show more respect to foreign tourists who contribute to the Indonesian economy.
Alain Bigot
Paris
