Bali Tourism
Police and Anti-Corruption Board investigate corruptions of visa-on-arrival fees at Bali's airport
DenpPost reports that 44 immigration officials are now being examined by the Anti-Corruption Board (BPK) in connection with the suspected embezzlement of Rp. 3 billion (US$294,000) by immigration officials at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. The alleged corruption reportedly occurred between the months of October 2008 and May 2009 in the under-reporting of funds received from visa on arrival sales.
Visitors from a number of countries are allowed upon arrival in Bali to purchase a non-extendable 7-day visa for US$10 or a 30-day visa for US$25.
The head of the Airport Immigration office, Budhi Harmanto, confirmed to the Bali Post that 44 members of his office have been undergoing interrogation by the BPK since June. Harmanto said the investigation commenced after inspectors from the central headquarters of Immigration found irregularities in visa-on-arrival accounts, thought to have ocurred when immigration officials deposited the value of a 7-day visa when, in fact, the more expensive 30-day visa had been paid for and issued to an incoming tourist.
According to Beritabali.com, the corrupt practices investigative unit of the Bali police have also joined the case. Meanwhile, Bali's Governor, Made Mangku Pastika, has called for the urgent investigation and disposition of the cases. Speaking to the press on July 7, 2009, after a telephone conference with President Yudhoyono, Pastika said, "clearly, we hope definite legal action will be taken on this suspected case of corruption."
Tourism Sector Responds
Tourism leaders in Bali have called on the Bali airport's immigration office to undertake introspection not only concerning the most recent suspected case of corruption, but also on the general level of service they provide to Bali's foreign visitors, bearing in mind that immigration officials work on the front line in presenting a positive image of Bali.
Quoted in the Bali Post, the Vice-chairman of the Bali chapter of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASITA), Ketut Ardana, said that his membership had complained "tens of times" regarding the poor service of immigration officials; in each instance ASITA's complaints fell on deaf ears.
While emphasizing that he leaves the final disposition of the current case to the legal process, Ardana called for firm action to be taken against any officials eventually proven guilty.
Commenting separately, the vice-chairman of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB), Nyoman Suwidjana, said he was not surprised with the case of suspected corruption involving Rp. 3 billion. The BTB official, who is also a leading university academic, said: "This is an old song. From the unprofessional way in which the officials work in addition to their poor mental attitude, sooner or later, malfeasance is certain to occur. Frankly, we are tired of trying to shine the spotlight on such (corrupt) practices."
Suwidjana told the press that if immigration is unable to do their job correctly, the government should seriously consider contracting the visa-on-arrivals services to the private sector. Suwidjana added: "The government would only play a supervisory role. Let the private sector, acting professionally, provide this service. This would be better than allowing the image of Bali to be sacrificed. This is nonsense to allow ourselves to be seen as corrupt."
Bank Indonesia calculates that US$8.5 million was collected in visa-on-arrivals fees for the four-month period January-April.
Comments
While on the subject of corruption I would like to see the police have a good look at the taxi drivers that are outside the airport when you arrive.
They flatly refused to use their meters and insisted that our friends and ourselves each pay 100,000 Rupia to go to our hotel 5 minutes away from the airport.
I find this very rude and discusting to dupe your visitors like that.
Another one the police should be monitering is the exchange places in the markets.
They advertise a better exchange rate and when you change your money, at the end they ask if you have some small money for them and they steal 200,000 rupia off you while you are looking for the change.
This is an insult to us Australians as we have all been so worried about Bali not getting the tourists because of the bombings and we all try to support you all and this is what we get.It is so sad that you have a small amount of people who ruin the image of your beautiful friendly people.
I hope you will follow this up,
P Watzek Australia
This practice was still happening when we visited Bali in June 09. The official demanded we pay the higher fee, though we were staying only 7 days. He then demanded that we change other documents to make it seem we were staying longer. He did not check the other documents and we did not change them. I did not get his name, but sincerely hope he is one of the officers under investigation.
If the government considers overhauling the visa-on-arrival system, may be it would be a good idea to also consider abolishing the $10 dollar transit visa, which not only is a practice not well known at other airports in the region, but also unnecessary time consuming.
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