By: Basa Brawijaya *)
Jakarta, CIDISS – Visa-free policy increase the chances of Indonesia to increase foreign exchange earnings through tourism sector. Total of 84 countries have obtained visa-free facility for their citizens who want to visit Indonesia. The visa exemption aims to become an attraction of foreign tourists for coming to Indonesia. The number of foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia far behind other ASEAN countries such as Malaysia which reaches 26 million foreign tourists and Thai, which reached 28 million. Though Indonesia has a tourist spot more and more attractive than they are.
Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASITA) confirmed that the visa-free policy towards 84 countries had a positive impact. ASITA chairman, Hasiyanna Ashadi, said the Indonesian tourism players have been expecting this policy for a long time. This policy would be welcomed positively and must be followed with vigorous campaign for foreign tourists. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya also estimated that with the addition of a visa-free country, state revenues from the tourism sector will increase by 1 to 2 billion US dollars. “Total 45 countries visa-free. We expect there will be an additional one million foreign tourists when converted into dollars (US) was around $ 1 billion. And our predictions to be two million if the free-visa will be easy, state Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Australia does not go in, in Australia universally valid visa,” he said.
Visa-free policy also has some negative impacts such as vulnerability to enter the perpetrators of transnational crime, terrorism and smuggling. But it certainly can be balanced with strict checks on the personal and personal luggage. Control over the crime and the spread of extremist ideologies is also done by selecting a country that is not included in the countries that are active in international crime, drugs and extreme ideology. Moreover, the negative impact is not become an obstacle to the development of Indonesia. Of course, as application of the visa-free policy, the security forces would also improve oversight of threats that try to enter. It’s better to think positively for the betterment of the nation. [BB]
*) CIDISS Contributor