After several false starts, Indonesian authorities appear ready to remove the $50 Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) fee that is paid by all Australians holidaying in Bali.
It could go before October.
This represents a $200 saving for a family of four at a time when many families are being impacted by cost-of-living pressures.
The VoA was originally scrapped in 2016, resulting in a 15 per cent jump in Australians heading to Bali and creating a new annual record for arrivals of 1.2 million. But due to COVID restrictions, the VoA was reinstated adding to the cost of a Bali holiday.
According to the president of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute, Robbie Gaspar Indonesia is very aware that visa fees act as a disincentive for foreign tourists. Therefore, he welcomes the move to remove what is actually an “arrivals tax”.
“We understand that Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism, Sandi Uno, will recommend that some 20 countries, including Australia, will be given visa-free entry into Indonesia, including Bali, before October when the nation’s new president is inaugurated,” says Mr Gaspar.
“This will make it cheaper for Aussie families and we therefore expect to see another jump in the number of holidaymakers heading to our favourite island”.
Arrival numbers have already rebounded strongly post-COVID with more than 410,000 West Australians travelling to Bali in the last 12 months.
The confusion over the timing of the VoA fee removal has been impacted by Australia’s decision to actually increase visa application fees for both Chinese and Indonesian nations by a staggering 35 per cent — or $190 per person — as from late last year.
“Not only has this decision frustrated Indonesian authorities but has acted as a significant disincentive for tourists from Indonesia and our region to holiday in Australia”, explains Mr Gaspar.
“Last year 9.1 million Indonesians travelled abroad, but only 11,000 chose Perth as their destination with travellers taking advantage of the visa-free entry now offered to them from over 70 other countries.”
WA Premier Roger Cook recently announced the introduction of direct air links between Perth and China scheduled to start within the next few months. China has since announced that Australians will be offered visa-free entry, however Australian officials have taken the bewildering decision to increase inbound visa red-tape and fees, creating a disincentive for Chinese nationals to holiday here.
Mr Gaspar says Australia is being left behind in the race for increased international tourism that would boost our economy.
“We still see Asia through the eyes of caution and still believe we need to make it more difficult for people within our region to come and get to know us. This is really disappointing,” he says.
Meanwhile, Australian families will still need to pay the VoA arrival fee on arrival into Bali for now, pending the formal announcement of the new rules that will leave families with more money as they walk out of Bali’s international airport to start their Christmas holiday.
Ross Taylor is founder and past president of the Indonesia Institute.