Balinese Refuses Visa Validation

Confronted about 5.500 people, who represent Bali tourism last Wednesday (27/8), Judicial District Office and HAM Bali. They refused the Keppres (presidential decree) No.18 tahun 2003 about the validation of Bebas Visa Kunjungan Singkat (BVKS) – short visit visa regulation. That Keppres only supplies a free visa for 11 countries that provides with similar facility to the Indonesian.

The demonstration went peacefully and well arranged, from 9 am. The demonstrators were mostly the ones depending on tourism sector, such as hotel employees, travel agencies, transportation, guide, etc, and other participants of governmental employee and tourism school, and also the tourism organization like Casagrande, Kuta Executive Club, PHRI, PAWIBA, Gahawisri, ASITA, HPI, LSM, and other.
The demonstrator group was welcomed by Head of Judicial District Office and HAM of Bali Provimce, Suryanto, SH. Before it welcomed, the demonstrator gathered at Monument of Balinese Struggle Bajra Sandhi and convoked to the office that regulated the tourist’s visa to Bali.
According to Ir. Made Sur-yawan, as the speaker, his side just wishes that government will cancel the Keppres validation. “The cancelled action is not in duration of 2 or 3 months, but cancelled until the tourism condition getting normal again,” he said.
Far explains that tourism is the Indonesian second biggest foreign exchange producer after migas (oil and natural gas), and expected become the first rate producer in next 2005. “Thus, the validation of this Keppres in this year (2003) is not a right decision,” said Head of Bali Tourism Office, Prof. Pitana.
It completely said, if the central government understand within inner self, cancelled action of this Keppres is the right step. (BTN/013/015)