JAKARTA - The application of visa on arrival (VoA) which has been going on since early March 2022 has succeeded in bringing nearly 15,000 foreign tourists to the island of Bali. Deputy for Strategic Policy at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) Nia Niscaya said this was an effect of making it easier for foreign tourists to come using VoA. "From the beginning, there were almost 15,000 tourists, especially in Bali, until the 26th. Most VoA users come from Australia, Singapore, the United States, France and England," Nia said in the Ministry of Tourism's Weekly Press Briefing, Monday (28/3/2022).Nia assessed that the VoA policy was more effective than an electronic visa or e-visa in terms of bringing in foreign tourists.“It is very clear that the growth of foreign tourists visiting was when it was still an e-visa and then VoA. There are numbers that get e-visas in one month, while VoA is only for one week," he explained. On the same occasion, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said government policies had a positive impact on the level of foreign tourists visiting. "This is a policy that is right on target, has the right benefits, and is on time. And Alhamdulillah, it did not trigger an increase in Covid-19 cases," said Sandi.Currently, there are 42 countries that have access to VoA, making it easier for them to visit Indonesia. The increasing number of visits is expected to be a momentum for economic revival for Indonesia. "Surely this is a new optimism, momentum for our economic revival and can open up business opportunities and jobs," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. The government plans to expand VoA facilities to several other entrances in Indonesia, including Medan Kualanamu Airport, Soekarno-Hatta Tangerang-Banten, Juanda Surabaya, Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar, and Sam Ratulangi Manado. Source : https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20220329/12/1516418/implementasi-visa-on-arrival-hampir-15000-wisman-kunjungi-bali
Read moreMagical Melukat: Purifying Our Mind, Body & Soul
23 Feb 2022 • 2 min read
Melukat is just one of Bali’s magical rituals which involves using water as a ritual cleanser. The aim is to cleanse both body and mind, to refresh the spirit and dissolve away any negative influences. It is also believed to cure non medical diseases and sickness of the spirit and whether it does or not, a session bathing in holy waters will certainly make you feel good.
Many of these places exist in Bali, with the best known and most visited ones are hidden around the Tirtha Empul area. Yet, Tirtha Sudamala Temple remains surprisingly unvisited, and delightfully pristine. Descending the steep road and carved granite steps, you get the feeling that you are discovering something really special. Something unknown.
Early morning is the best time to visit, while the air is cool and fresh. Sometimes Bali’s youngest Perdanda – ( high Priestess) is in attendance, although the day we went, she was busy elsewhere. She is said to arrive around 8am and will stay for some time to give blessings to her devoted followers.
In technical terms, Melukat derives from the old Javanese word “lukat” which means to “cleanse” or “purify” while the Indonesian meaning is “to let go” or release something within us. Self purification is sought by many Hindus and in India, the devoted throng to the banks of the holy Ganges River with a similar purpose. It is a ritual that can be performed many times, in fact the more, the merrier as it can only lead to good things.
After the ritual bathing is done, it is a steep walk up the hill, but the Balinese, being service oriented, have motorbikes awaiting the lazy. What a great invention! So a quick and painless ride back to the top of the hill brings us to several warungs serving a host of local delights. Coffee, a cold coke, a ketupat concoction with vegetables and steamed rice, and several other culinary treats are there to be enjoyed. You can just choose what you will. A few local people sell fruit from their own gardens as well as sweet potatoes and if you are lucky, the especially delicious Bangle avocados, the best on the island. It is all a really wonderful way to start the day, or the week, or even the rest of your life!
Source : https://www.nowbali.co.id/magical-melukat-purifying-mind-body-soul/
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JAKARTA - The government continues to take steps to restore tourism by adding foreign tourist entrances to Indonesia. One of them is the granting of a visa on arrival (VoA) at Soekarno Hatta International Airport and at several other airports in Indonesia.The Directorate General of Immigration issues Circular Number IMI-0549.GR.01.01 of 2022 concerning Ease of Immigration to Support Sustainable Tourism During the Covid-19 Pandemic. In the SE, it was noted that there were additional immigration checkpoints at the airport. After previously being the first to open Bali, as of April 5, 2022, Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and Yogyakarta International Airport can provide VoA.In addition to VoA, foreign tourists from Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam can use visa-free special tourist visits through the airports listed. The following is a list of additional airport immigration checkpoints:Soekarno Hatta in DKI JakartaNgurah Rai in BaliKualanamu in North SumatraJuanda in East JavaHasanuddin in South SulawesiSam Ratulangi in North SulawesiYogyakarta in DI YogyakartaPreviously, at the end of March 2022, the addition of countries that could administer VoA in Bali had brought nearly 15,000 foreign tourists to the Island of the Gods. This expansion is a step to restore the tourism sector. Looking at BPS data, the number of foreign tourists visiting from January to February 2022 was only around 33,000 people, which is much different from the number in the same period in 2019, which was almost 1.8 million people. Keep in mind, referring to the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 28 of 2018 the granting of a visa-free visit for special tours is only valid as a stay permit for a visit for 30 days and cannot be extended. Source : https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20220406/12/1519643/makin-diperluas-visa-on-arrival-sudah-berlaku-di-bandara-soekarno-hatta
Read moreThe Finance Ministry has released a list of new visa prices ahead of an eagerly anticipated announcement on a new visa regime.The information is not yet fully confirmed and will need to be confirmed with an announcement from the Immigration Department.The pricing information comes without definitions of conditions attached. There are changes to retirement visas, tourist visas, and other long visit visas in terms of both the length of stay and how much a visitor will pay. Costs for temporary residence permits (ITAS) and permanent residence permits (ITAP) have also changed for some categories. Social media and messaging apps were ablaze with speculation yesterday about what a “second home” visa would mean and what rules would be attached to a new 180-day visa. Details are expected by 16th April 2022 from the Law and Human Rights Ministry. However, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has spoken about attempts to reinstate visa on arrival (VoA) for visitors to Bali in recent days. Here is a breakdown of what has changed with the new visa pricing.Visit visasSingle entry visit visas up to 60 days and will not be extendable will cost Rp1.5 million for tourism purposes and Rp2 million for all other purposesSingle entry visit visa up to 180 days will cost Rp6 millionMultiple entry visit visa with maximum stay up to 12 months with each visit a maximum of 180 days will cost Rp3 millionVisa on arrival for 30 days and non-extendable will cost Rp500kDirector General approval charge will be Rp200kIn-country stay permits will cost Rp2 million for 60 days and Rp6 million for 180 days, for pre-investment activitiesTemporary residence (ITAS)For the initial visa to be issued before converting on arrival, the cost is Rp700k for visas on arrival, this is for certain types of foreign workers, for all other purposes except a second home visa it will cost $150.A new category called a “second home visa” will cost Rp3 million per applicant and a further Rp2 million per dependent applicationDirector General approval charge will be Rp200kUpon entry, to convert the initial visa into the ITAS, the charges remain unchanged at Rp1 million for six months, Rp1.5 million for 12 months, Rp2 million for two years, and Rp5 million for 5 years for those in an SEZFor the new second home visa category, a five-year ITAS will be issued for Rp12 million for the primary applicant and Rp3.5 million for each dependent applicant. For marine workers, the ITAS at sea prices remain unchanged at Rp1 million for the permit and Rp300k for the stamp. Permanent residence (ITAP)A five-year new or renewed ITAP application still costs Rp5 millionA new five-year ITAP in the new second home category will cost Rp15 million for the main applicant and Rp5 million for each dependent applicationAn unlimited ITAP for non-second home holders will cost Rp10.2 millionAn unlimited ITAP for second home applicants will cost Rp30 million for the main applicant and Rp15 million for each dependent applicantRe-entry permitsThe cost of re-entry permits has not changed for all residence permit holdersFor second home applicants, the cost of a re-entry permit will be Rp6 million for the main applicant and Rp1.5 million for each dependent Visitors NEW APPLICATIONS Single-entry visit visa/stay permit for 60 days1,500,000rp (was $50) for tourism2,000,000rp (was $50) otherwiseSingle-entry visit visa/stay permit for 180 days NEW6,000,000rpMultiple-entry visit visa3,000,000rp (was $110) per year max 5 yearsDirector General approval charge200,000rp (no change)EXTENSIONS Existing stay permit (visa) extensionNO LONGER VALID: see 60/180 day fees above – was 500,000rp per 30 daysResidents Visa ITAS (for entry to Indonesia) On arrival (e.g. for foreign workers in certain projects)700,000rp (no change)Other than second home$150 (no change)Second home NEW3,000,000rp for main applicant2,000,000rp for each extra spouse/childDirector General approval charge200,000rp (no change)ITAS (payable within country after entry) On arrival (for workers)750,000rp (no change)For 6 month ITAS1,000,000rp (n.c.)For 1 year ITAS1,500,000rp (n.c.)For 2 year ITAS2,000,000rp (n.c)For 5 year ITAS (in S.E.Z. only)5,000,000rp (n.c.)For 5 year ITAS (for second home only) NEW12,000,000rp for main applicant 3,500,000rp for each extra spouse/childFor ITAS at sea (marine workers)1,000,000rp for approval (for n.c.)300,000rp for stamp (n.c.)ITAP 5 year new ITAP or renewal, except second home5,000,0000rp (n.c.)5 year new ITAP for second home NEW15,000,000rp for main applicant 5,000,000rp for each extra spouse/childUnlimited ITAP, except for second home10,200,000rp (n.c.)Unlimited ITAP for second home (5 year renewal not available?) NEW30,000,000rp for main applicant 15,000,000rp for each extra spouse/childRe-entry permit (payable with ITAS at same length;for ITAP 2 years compulsory, subsequently optional) 6 months600,000rp (n.c.)1 year1,000,000rp (n.c.)2 year1,750,000rp (n.c.)5 years (SEZ only)3,250,000rp (n.c.)5 years (for second home) NEW6,000,000rp for main applicant1,500,000rp for each extra spouse/childOverstay1,000,000rp per day to 60 days (no change) Source : https://indonesiaexpat.id/business-property/new-visa-pricing-announced-more-details-expected-in-april/
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