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Ukraine envoy 'disappointed' over Bali's plan to revoke visa on arrival
Ukrainian Ambassador to Indonesia Vasyl Hamianin said that only a small number of Ukrainian tourists had violated regulations in Indonesia in the past four years.
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Foreign tourists lie on a beach in Seminyak, Badung regency on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Dec. 7, 2022. (AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka )
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krainian Ambassador to Indonesia Vasyl Hamianin said he was disappointed with Bali authorities' proposal to end the visa-on-arrival scheme for Ukrainians visiting the popular holiday island after a string of visa violations involving Ukrainian and Russian tourists.
"I am very disappointed with the proposal. It was a very unfriendly decision, especially considering Ukraine has a lot of refugees and temporarily displaced people due to the ongoing military aggression from Russia," he said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster proposed on Sunday to the central government that the visa-on-arrival policy for visitors from those two countries, which are currently engaged in a protracted war, be terminated following increased reports that these tourists are misusing their tourist visas to find employment on the island.
"Why these particular two countries? Currently, they are at war, so they come to Bali not only as tourists but also to work," Koster told the press on Sunday.
The proposal also comes as Indonesians in Bali have taken to social media to complain about foreign tourists, particularly Russians and Ukrainians, and their rude behavior, alleged traffic rule violations and how they made a living in Bali without the proper documents.
Read also: Bali governor wants to end visa on arrival for Russians, Ukrainians, ban motorbike rental
Last week, a 37-year-old Ukrainian tourist was arrested by the Bali Police for allegedly paying a local Rp 31 million (US$2,005) to illegally obtain an Indonesian identification card and family card (KK) to extend his stay on the island. On Friday, immigration deported three female Russian tourists for violating their stay permits and allegedly engaging in commercial sex work in Bali. This year, the Bali Immigration Office has deported 31 foreign tourists from the island, many of whom were Russian, for reasons ranging from overstaying their visas to working illegally.
