Dantie Hoopmans:
Withdrawal of Free Visa Regulation Wrong Step

The government decision to withdraw the free visa regulation for tourism visits (Keppres No.18/2003) to Indonesia was not only complained about by tourism enterprise agencies such as PHRI and Kadin Bali. Many foreign tourists also judge that the Keppres (presidential decision) No.18/2003 could make tourism in Bali suffer more. The Indonesian Government policy of issuing tourist visas only for 1 month means that it will be more difficult to enjoy Bali. Foreign tourists, especially those from an older age group, who are interested in staying in Bali for 6-8 weeks, will cancel their travel plans and change their interest to Thailand, Spain, or Singapore.
The General Manager of Serenade Beach Inn, Dantie Hoopmans, hopes the government will reconsider the decision to put the regulation into effect. ‘This is clearly a wrong decision,’ he said after presenting the 1st Anniversary of Lions Club Bali Surya Host, at Hotel Sarinande Kuta.
Hoopmans who promotes Bali to a foreign country (Holland) explains the free visa revocation policy is particularly inappropriate while tourism in Bali is in mourning. The tragedy of the bombings and the SARS issue was as a heavy blow for the tourism industry with many hotels and hotel employees suffering. On top of these problems, the government has created another by making it more complicated for foreign tourists to visit Indonesia. ‘If you have to use a visa, it should be valid for about 2 or 3 months. Just look at Singapore or Thailand. Foreigners who at first wanted to go to Bali, suddenly changed their interest to other countries,’ he added.
Apparently, many tourists who enjoy their vacation at Hotel Sarinande, Kuta, share the worries of the Hoopmans. John Breild with his wife and 3 sons, who already spent 1 week in Bali, said a month’s validity was not beneficial for tourists. ‘We want to spend more time in Bali. If it were restricted to only a month, we’d better not,’ he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations Office and Government Protocol of Bali Province, Gede Nurjaya extended good news to the tourism agency of Bali. He explained the content of Menkeh and HAM circular dated 20 May 2003, about the cancelling the free visa policy for tourist visits for foreign tourists of 49 countries. On April 2003, the Governor of Bali sent a letter to Menkeh and HAM, to ask the government to cancel the policy that could make the economy of Bali, dependent on tourism, decline gradually. (jep)