TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) has found the misuse of free-visa policy by tourists from a number of countries in several regions, including in East Java that causes Rp. 1 trillion in state financial losses.
"The free-visa policy is aimed at boosting the number of tourist arrival; yet other parties such as the East Java Immigration Office suffer from financial looses of up to Rp. 1 trillion,” said Head of Working Committee of the Law Enforcement of Commission III of the DPR, Desmond J. Mahesa on Saturday.
According to Desmond, the free visa policy is misused by tourists from several countries to work in Indonesia by using tourist visas.
"If is often found that they work for 2-3 months, then they try to obtain Kitas (Indonesia’s residence permit), so they do not pay taxes when entering Indonesia,” he added.
EDY M YA`KUB | ANTARA