Lombok included on visa-on-arrival policy list

DENPASAR (indo.com): The government has included Lombok's airport on visa-on-arrival policy list following the implementation of the policy on the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.

The policy was put into effective in Mataram's Selaparang Airport on March 1, 2004.

The Provincial Government of Lombok has reportedly managed to include Mataram's Selaparang Airport on the list of the government's visa-on-arrival policy list despite pros and cons on the issue.

A report said that Indonesia's Minister of Justice and Human Rights had formally approved the Island's request to include Lombok on the list of Indonesian gateways able to issue visas for 30 days upon arrival after the payment of a US$ 25 fee.

Lombok was initially one of the Indonesian gateways exempted from its right to implement visa-on-arrival policy following protest from the Island's tourism community. They feared that the implementation of visa-on-arrival policy could cause cancellations in international bookings. However, Mataram's Selaparang Airport was eventually included on the visa-on-arrival-policy list following local provincial government's relentless efforts to convince local tourism community about the benefit of the policy.