"If the common ASEAN visa system is adopted, we just need to set up more immigration checking counters," Sulistiono of the law and human rights ministry`s immigration directorate general said here recently.
The immigration directorate general so far had 44 immigration checking counters equipped with online information system facilities to check the identities of people coming to or leaving Indonesia, he said.
"Ideally, there should be 126 counters equipped with an online information system. But, the development of the online information system depends on the available budget. However, our point is we are ready," he said.
The directorate general would therefore give priority to the addition of 82 immigration checking counters with an online information system to the existing number in the days ahead, he said.
An online information system was very crucial to the immigration office`s ability to prevent visa abuse after the common ASEAN visa system was adopted.
The Indonesian government has set itself the target of attracting 7.7 million foreign tourists this year and 8.4 million in 2012, according to Ani Insani, the tourism and creative economy ministry`s tourism standardization director.
She was optimistic that the ASEAN common visa policy would help increase the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia.
The ASEAN common visa issue will be discussed in the 19th ASEAN Summit to be held in Bali, November 17-19, 2011. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
