BATAM: Government canceled the imposition of Visa on Arrival (VoA) tariff at US$25 in Batam, Bintan, and Karimun, and returns to initial tariff at US$10.Batam Tourism and Culture Department has received certainty regarding Voa tariff reduction after the Ministry of Law and Human Rights granted the imposition of VoA for seven days at US$10 per foreign tourist, which will effective starting July 1, 2011, Head of Tourism and Culture Department Yusfa Hendri said.The VoA tariff was initially set at US$10 then increased to US$25 per person and counts per group of four people at US$10. Currently, the government returns to initial tariff, he said yesterday.Such cancelation conducted since the tariff at US$25 causing a concern among tourism businesspeople in Riau Islands since its imposition affected the performance of Batams tourism industry.Although there will be a direct decline in revenue, Yusfa assessed the cancelation will prosper Batams tourism industry because it increases visitation of foreign tourist.Earlier, the central government imposed a particular double tariff for tourism in Batam, Bintan and Tanjung Pinang at US$10 for a group of foreign tourist from Asean member countries with visitation period of seven days.Meanwhile, tourist with visitation periods more than thirty days or below seven days but in non-group tour is charge with US$25.Vice Governor of Riau Islands Soerya Respationo appreciated the governments decision by providing privilege to Batam, Bintan, Karimun and Tanjung Pinang associated with the imposition of particular visa tariff that enters and exits to Indonesia through Riau Islands.The governments decision is resulted from the hard work conducted between Riau Islands Provincial Government, all the stakeholders of tourism industry and quick respond from related Ministry.Batam chamber of commerce Chairman Nada Faza Soraya assessed the imposition of initial tariff provides golden opportunity to businesspeople in Riau Islands tourism industry. (T06/NOM)
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