The Indonesian authorities previously decided to increase the price of entrance ticket to Komodo and Padar Islands from Rp 150,000 (US$10.5) to Rp 3.75 million.
The step is taken amid protests against the rising ticket price to famous tourist destination Komodo Island.
The government plans to apply the new entrance fee of Rp3.75 million per ticket holder to visit Komodo Island and Padar Island, starting August 1, 2022, for a year.
The Atambua Immigration Office Class II in Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has started preparation to start issuing tourist visa on arrival (VOA) in cross-border posts (PLBN) shared with Timor Leste.
Head of Atambua Immigration Office KA Halim said his office had been preparing all supporting facilities to ensure the service runs smoothly.
“The preparation for VOA issuance for tourism purposes includes preparing the tools, location, internet connection, and issuance mechanism,” Halim said on Thursday, August 4, as reported by Antara.
According to him, the service and its arrangement are mandated by a circular issued by the Directorate General of Immigration on easing immigration process to support tourism industry amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Two PLBNs that will issue special tourist VOA are PLBN Wini in North Timor Tengah regency and PLBN Motamasin in Malaka regency, and trial was carried out in PLBN Wini earlier on Tuesday.
“There were seven border crossers that got the special tourist VOA, and [the process] went smoothly,” Halim revealed.
He lastly said the service is expected to boost the revival of tourism industry and help increase the number of tourists from Timor Leste who want to visit Indonesia through NTT.
“The service is to push the increase of tourists, so it can create economic impacts to people and to the country as a whole,” Halim concluded.
