“Ease Visa Procedures and Facilitation” recommended to APEC Summit

The recommendations on visa facilitation, together with other 19 recommendations from Indonesia that were earlier discussed in the Senior Officials Meeting on 1 -2 October, and will be included in the main Agenda of APEC leaders in the Summit. Some 97 percent of Indonesia’s 20 recommendations were already agreed upon by APEC economic members.

 

 

The easing of visa formalities to boost travel and tourism is not a new concept, said Pangestu. UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) in a report compiled with WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council) for APEC entitled : “The Impact of Visa Facilitation in APEC Economies” noted that easing of visa formalities will result in additional 57 million tourists to the region, making an aggregate income from the tourism sector of between US$ 62-89 billion to APEC members’ economies. It will also add between 1.8 – 2.6 million jobs in tourism to the year 2016.

 

 

So far, the APEC Business Travel Card for businessmen is already in operation providing ease of travel to APEC countries without having to apply for a visa and goint through visa procedures over and again. This type of visa is now encouraged to apply to non-businesses. Nonetheless, until then, normal procedures still apply.

 

 

In 2011, APEC members had also agreed on the APEC Travel Facilitation Initative, The action plan is in progress involving not only officials from tourism, but also from finance, customs, immigrations, security, communications and airport authorities who are involved in different working groups.

 

 

At national level, Indonesia continues to increase the number of countries extended Visa on Arrival facilities. A sapphire system has also been extended to trusted travellers to increase ease, comfort and speed in travel through airports. Also in progress is the biometric passport and visa application online.

 

 

Regionally in ASEAN, Indonesia has proved its commitment to increasing visa facilitation. By end 2013 ASEAN members are intent to operate the single ASEAN visa for countries outside the region who wish to travel to a number of ASEAN countries.

 

 

 

In an earlier session, UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, said that tourist potential in the APEC region is very significant but has not yet been utilized effectively.

"(UNWTO) has undertaken a three year study on tourism in the APEC region, and as a result we have made 6 recommendations" said Rifai. These are:

 

APEC member governments should boost publication through online tourism sites. These sites should be user friendly and make available clear information to tourists to the related destinations.

 

APEC countries are recommended to shorten bureaucratic procedures on travel, this includes shortening of time and ease of travel to tourists.

 

APEC should offer many more country destinations for specific tourist categories, which also entails easing of travel formalities.

 

 

Modern Technology should be used, in particular in providing e-visa. If airlines can replace paper tickets with e-tickets in the past decade, this should also be able to apply to visas.

 

 

 

At present, many countries in the world have signed bilateral agreements, including the provision of free visa.

 

Source : www.indonesia.travel special report