Listen up you surfers in Bali

Aloha Nick/Paul

Hope you get some sick summer swells and score epic Padang Padang and G-Land.

We’ve already had one or two semi-decent south swell bumps here in Waikiki. The first good summer swell is just around the corner. I’m sure of it.

Keep us up-to-date on the crowds in the water. I’m curious how the war/SARS/post Oct. 12 scene has affected the lineups at all the breaks in Bali/Java/Sumatra etc.

Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii

Excellent coverage!. Hey Nick, just been reading about the new entry visa regulations the Indo government has introduced. Yaitu, instead of the usual 60 day free visa, it is now restricted to 30 days and you have to pay a fee upon entry (rumours are it will be US$50). Heard anything more about this?. I am a tad concerned because I will be coming for a couple of months!

Jason,

Paul was out at Bingin today and saw an English guy and a local get into it. They both tried for the same wave, argued in the water then the Balinese guy broke the other guy’s board ripped a gold chain off of him and pulled a knife on him. Pretty hot stuff!

They should read our surf report and go to different beaches.

Barrie I haven’t heard anything about this but will get the latest update from Arjuna Immigration consultants. If this is true its a huge blunder by the Indonesian government. Tourism in Bali has been hurt enough already without your own government putting road blocks in people’s way. Wouldn’t surprise me though, logic doesn’t play a large part in some of the rules over here.

Hi Nick,
I saw a couple of comments in the Jakarta post about imposing a visa fee…so I will not be surprised if they do start charging. You are right…it makes no sense..tourism is way down so this is the last thing they should even be thinking about.

I really, really, really hope that the rumor about 30 days/$50 visa isn’t true.

One reason why travellers like Bali so much is that you get to stay for 60 days without visa hassles.

And if you want to stay longer (which many do) you go to Singapore for the day and no worries, you’re back in Bali that evening.

As y’all said, this wouldn’t surprise me if it were true. It fits right into the Indo bureaucratic “logic” that seems to be so prevalent.

Talk about shooting yourself in both feet when you need to run faster than ever before!

Let’s hope that this is no more than a rumor.

Let’s hope that the Indonesian government realizes that the money that Indonesia (and Bali in particular) needs the most at the moment comes from travellers spending their money at local restaurants and shops for several months.

Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii

Nick, just copied this from the BaliDiscovery site which I read last night regarding the visas. I’ll ring the Indonesian Consulate here this morning and let you know what they say.
Article:
Despite widespread protests from Indonesia’s tourism industry, the Government has forged ahead with its plans to revoke the visa-free facility enjoyed by the citizens of 48 countries visiting Indonesia.

In a Presidential decision No. 18 of 2003 dated 31 March 2003 - and only made public on Monday, April 7, 2003, President Megawati Soekarnoputri declared:

• The Visa free facility on arrival has been revoked for reasons of “reciprocity and national security.”

• Countries excepted from the new regulation include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Hong Kong (SAR), Macao (SAR), Chile, Morocco, Turkey and Peru.

• Nationals of other countries (assumed to be limited to those listed in the former 48 formerly granted visa-free visits and not listed in the exempted nations) will be granted a visa of 30 days at the Indonesian arrival gateway following the payment of a fee. While the Presidential decision does not specify the amount of the visa fee, a figure of US$ 50 has been widely discussed.

• The 30 day visa issued at the Countries gateways will be non-extendable and not eligible for mutation into another form of visa.

• Visitors wishing to stay for more than 30 days will be required to apply beforehand for visas at the Indonesian Embassy in their country of residence.

• Those visitors who are visiting Indonesia under the terms of a contract signed between an Indonesian tour operator and a foreign tour operator will be allowed an additional 6 months before the new visa policy is applied.

PATA Delegates Unaffected

Delegates attending the Pacific Asia Travel Association Conference April 13-17, 2003, in Bali will be unaffected by the change in visa policy.

Dr. I Gede Pitana, Director of the Bali Tourism Authority has confirmed that while immigration authorities sort out the implementation steps for the President’s latest decision on visas, all delegates attending the conference will be accommodated under the “old” visa-free on arrival policy, citing the fact that the conference was contracted several years past thereby qualifying the Conference participants for the special exception.

Confusion Likely to Prevail

The new visa policy is likely to raise a number of questions and confuse the traveling public.

That the President’s decision has immediate effect may result in uneven administration and payment practices at local airports. How will people be treated who refuse to pay the additional visa? Will official receipts be issued? How will the authorities determine those travelers exempted from paying due to existing contracts with Indonesian tour operators?

What currencies will be accepted and at what rates of exchange?

Visitors arriving in the days just prior to the announcement were apparently not charged the visa fee. So, when, exactly, will the charge be imposed?

Dark Days Ahead

Despite widespread protests from the tourism industry and surveys showing that a drop of as little as 3% in visitor arrivals would completely nullify any foreign exchange advantage resulting from a visa fee when compared with lost foreign exchange generated by foreign tourist, the Government has pushed ahead with its plans to impose the new visa policy and fee system.

Cry, the Beloved Country

A tourism industry already reeling from the ill-effects of the war on Iraq, travel advisories prejudicial to Indonesian tourism, a teetering world economy and a SARS crisis - is likely to see the latest decision as a potential “death blow” to a market sector being lobbied continuously by the Government to avoid layoffs at all costs.

That just SUCKS!

Maybe they’ll realize what a catastrophic mistake it’ll be to do this.

Idiots.

Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii

Nick , I rang the Indonesian Consulate this afternoon and asked them about the new visa rules. They were extremely evasive and somewhat embarrassed. But, on the TV News bulletin tonight it was verified. The limit stay is 30 days and the cost of a visa is AUD$84 each and for a family of 4 it is AUD$364. The reason given is ‘to cover the cost of security in Bali’. There are no extensions to the visas. I agree with you Jason - IT SUCKS!.

I think its a disgrace going back to Bali so soon after the bomb. People lay dying while many locals just looted the surrounding shops. Only a fool, and a selfish fool at that, woulod support that economy.

I think its a disgrace going back to Bali so soon after the bomb. People lay dying while many locals just looted the surrounding shops. Only a fool, and a selfish fool at that, woulod support that economy.

Badly Injured, it is very sad you feel this way…
You must understand this is a 3rd World Country & persons do what they can to survive. My husband is Balinese, we have a daughter & I know I would do whatever I possibly could to feed my child, put a roof over her head & make sure we have enough to survive. Theft goes on all over the world even in western society. There will always be those that fend for themselves & those that look after others. I don’t think anyone returning is foolish & by all means not selfish. But we are all entitled to our own opinions..
I have lived in Bali on & off for many years now & it is like going home each time I arrive, I love the people & the country & the way of life there. They are the poor people suffering from this to not return in my eyes is Foolish & Selfish. The Balinese never hurt anyone, they have been hurt, just like you. But they just have to keep going & make the best of what they have.
I feel sorry for you that you feel this way & maybe in time you will be able to accept what has happened & move on…
PEACE!!!!!!

hey
would u be able to e-mail me a picture of a famous indoesnisan surfer and a profile if u could send me that today or tomorrow morning that would be great
many thanks ‘
tiff