More Aussies In Bali Than Ever, And Indonesia Wants To Return The Favour

By Travel Destination 03 Jan, 2024 Post a Comment

That is in line with a 2016 decree issued by Indonesian President Joko Widodo under which visa-free travel to the archipelago was to be offered according to the principles of reciprocity and economic benefit.

However, Indonesian officials, conscious of Bali’s heavy reliance on Australian tourists, have been hesitant to make any demands of Australia.

Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said last month that reciprocity was a factor in presenting a recommendation to Widodo, known as Jokowi, about which nationalities should no longer be required to pay for visas to travel there.

But he added: “Australians are No.1 at the top of the list and one of the proposals of the [Indonesian] ministry of tourism is to include Australia”.

Widodo pushed for the simplifying of travel rules for Indonesians wanting to visit Australia when he met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney in July. He flew home with the Albanese government agreeing to extend business visas.

Indonesians can travel visa-free or by obtaining a visa on arrival to more than 70 countries but under the Australian system must pay a non-refundable $190 simply to apply to come as a tourist, a charge which rose from $140 last year. Applications can take up to two months to be assessed.

‘Australia should be … reducing the costs and red tape to make it more attractive for Indonesians to come [but] we’re doing the reverse.’
Ross Taylor, Indonesia Institute

“The whole principle when Jokowi met with Albanese was to say we needed to make it easier for the movement of people between our two countries,” said Ross Taylor, founder of the Perth-headquartered Indonesia Institute, on Monday.

“What Australia should be doing with Indonesia is actually reducing the costs and red tape to make it more attractive for Indonesians to come to Australia and we’re doing the reverse.

“Clearly if you’re talking almost $800 for a family of four [to pay] just to submit an application to come here for a holiday, that by any stretch of the imagination acts as a massive disincentive. And it also goes completely against the principle of what the president and the prime minister talked about.”

Baca Juga

Asked in December whether conditions for Indonesians travelling to Australia could be relaxed, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said: “Australia has a universal, non-discriminatory immigration program and visa system that seeks to support a prosperous, united and secure Australia.

“Following the Australia-Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Sydney on 4 July 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new visa offerings for Indonesia to support commercial and business links.

“To support facilitated access to Australia for Indonesian business people, the Australian government now provides an extended business visitor visa with validity of up to five years and is working towards access to the Frequent Traveller Scheme program for Indonesian nationals.”

While visa fees may be on the way out, Indonesia will introduce a Bali tourism tax from February 14, with all foreigners having to pay 150,000 rupiah ($14) on arrival.

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