The Coordinating Minister
for maritime Affairs has prepared four deputies although it not yet has a fixed
budget. Four deputies, each of them with desk jobs including maritime
sovereignty, natural resources, and services, infrastructure and development of
marine life. “I could not mention the names of the officials,” Coordinating
Minister for Maritime Affairs, Indroyono Susilo, told Business News (February
5).
The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs evaluates
100 working days, at first (working) with no staff, no organizational
structure, no building and no budget. “But, we have the passion. We started
moving and until recently we have formed four deputies.”
The situation is similar but not the same when the
deceased former president, Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, established the
Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Exploration (at the end of 1999). At that
time, there was no nothing. The department was filled with four desks, six
directors. “We are familiar with limitations. We recruit staff Application),
inventor of ping locater. Gradually, we fixed the office of the Coordinating
Ministry for Maritime Affairs.”
Marine sector is also not free from various maritime
conventions, maritime agreements, and their international organizations.
Indonesian maritime sector can move quickly, because reliable human resources
can be parallel with the understanding of the law of the sea. Moreover, fisheries
diplomacy on the high seas is also very important for maritime development.
“Many treaties have been signed, but not yet ratified. For example, RFMO (Regional
Fisheries Management Organization) regulation for tuna fish. Ratification to
able to obtain tuna fishing quota. We must participate in RFMO, there are five
of us. Thank god that we have joined there RFMOs, including the tuna
commission, blue fin tuna. But, we have not ratified the North East Atlantic
Fisheries Commission.”
For the marine tourism sector, the coordinating Minister
for Maritime Affairs has provided addition of visa-free facilities to five
countries. Previously, the Indonesian government has given the facility to 15
countries. “Now we added four countries, including visa on arrival, i.e. china,
Japan, South Korea, Russia and Australia. The process is already running,
except for China. Because the Directorate General of Immigration of the
Ministry of Justice and Human Right needs preparation of three months”.
Indroyono saw the need for a visa-free break-through,
thus increasing tourist arrivals. The most obvious example is China. Along with
its rapid economic growth, the Chinese people are fond of traveling abroad.
Visa-free short visit for the five countries which are major markets of
Indonesian tourism. “We can get an extra 450 thousand tourists from these four
countries. The number is equivalent to USD 500 million of revenue per year. We
do not think of the reciprocal principle, but the principle of benefit. Not
necessarily reciprocal. Compare with Malaysia which provides the same facility
to 64 countries. And, Thailand to 50 countries. The two countries have a great
number of foreign tourist visits, and it continues to increase every year. We
can only give visa-free facility for 19 countries. We still have to struggle to
get 20 million foreign tourists.”
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs set a target
of 10 million foreign tourists per year 2015. The calculation is for foreign
tourists cost of 12 billion USD per year in 2014. So if the target of 10
billion tourists is achieved, the state managed to boost foreign exchange
earnings of USD 24 billion. So that the visa exemption policy for the five
countries is not something harmful. Indroyono also dismissed any doubt or fear
of smuggling practice behind the ease of visa. “If there is fear, may be the
culprit is just two or there persons. But tourists from China to all over the
world reached 100 million people every year. If we assume that 800 thousand
Chinese tourists are visiting Indonesia, the benefits are far greater than
questioning there people who do smuggling.”
The coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs has heard
the complaints of Chinese tourists. They admitted that it is complaints of
Chinese tourism. They admitted that it is difficult to get a visa to Indonesia.
Many Chinese people outside Beijing ultimately wasted their time to get a visa
“They have to arrange for visa at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing and
Indonesian Consulate General. They wanted to take a vacation, enjoy the marine
tourism in Indonesia. They called Indonesia as the last heaven on earth.”
Additionally, the coordinating
Minister for Maritime Affairs also improves the shipbuilding industry. Even
Presidential Decree No. 180/2014 is synergistic with the industry development
program. Visits of foreign yachts to Indonesia require a minimum of seven
marinas. Mooring facility will be placed. The seven mooring facilities are
Tanjung Pinang, Belitung, Labuan Bajo, Kupang, Ambon, and Saumlaki. 100 yachts
were parked in Marina Batam each year. If seven marinas are completed, it is
estimated that there are 1500 potential yachts coming to Indonesia. “Foreign
yachts are permitted to moor for 30 days. We will accelerate the immediate
completion of its development. We events are the Singapore straits regatta,
Nepture Reggata, and so forth. So the cruise ships will arrive. We would also
prepare in Jakarta, Benoa (Bali), Semarang, and Surabaya.” (E)
Business News - February 6, 2015
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