Visit Indonesia

Indonesia : Gem of the Equator

Gem Of Equator

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, consisting of more than 17,000 islands. Spread across 5,120 km of ocean and positioned between Asia and Australia, this country is as wide as the European continent. Four-fifths of the area is sea, with the major islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

Unity in Diversity
As the world’s 14th largest nation, Indonesia’s population totals over 200 million, comparising 250-300 ethnic groups that have their own language and dialects bute are united with Bahasa Indonesia, the national language spoken throughtout the archipelago.

The majority of Indonesians are Islam, with Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists and followers of Confucianism making up the rest. Since 2001 the Chinese culture has experienced a welcomed revival that served to enrich the country’s cultural diversity.

The Nature
Indonesia’s flora and fauna is diversely rich as its land and people. Asian mammals in the west, Australians marsupial species and birds in the east and the endemic species are in the middle of archipelago.

Orangutans, tigers, one horned rhinos, elephant, dugongs, anoas, komodo dragons are the pride of  Indonesia. The seas around archipelago also hold the country’s treasures, a rich marine environment that holds a myriad of species, from fish, corals and marine mammals. National parks around the archipelago serve to preserve this rich natural heritage.

Rules and Regulations
Immigration
All travellers to Indonesia must be in possession of passport valid for at least six months from date of arrival and have proof (tickets) of onward or return passage.

Immigration authorities provide Free Tourist Visas for a period of 30 days to nationals from 11 countries  only on the basis of reciprocity. These countries are Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darusalam, the Philipines, Hongkong SAR, Macao SAR, Chile, Marocco, Peru and Vietnam.

Moreover, Visa On Arrival has been given to nationals from 36 countries. There are : Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Visa Of Arrival (VOA) is valid  for 30 days and may be extended under the permission of Indonesian Immigration with the condition as follows :

• natural disaster occurs in the place visited by tourist;
• the traveler is taken ill or meets with an accident during their visit.

Other nationals must apply for visa at Indonesia Embassies or Consulates in their home country. Visa cannot be replaced with any other forms of immigration letters.

Entry ports where Visa On Arrival may be issued are (Airports) :

• Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta
• Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali
• Polonia Airport in Medan
• Sultan Syarif Kasim Airport in Pekanbaru
• Minang Kabau Airport in Padang
• Juanda Airport in Surabaya
• Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado.

Seaports :

Indonesia Beach

Batam, The Sekupang, Batuampar, Nongsa and Marina,Teluk Senimba, Bandar Bintan, Talani Lagoi and Bandar Sri Udana Labon in the Riau archipelago, Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjung Pinang, Belawan and Sibolga in North Sumatra, Yos Sudarso in Ambon, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya,Teluk Bayur of Padang,Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Padang Bai and Benoa in Bali, the port of Jayapura, Bitung in Manado,Tanjung Balai Karimun,Tanjung Mas in Central Java, Tenau and Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara, Pare-pare and Soekarno-Hatta port in South Sulawesi.

ClimateCustoms
Customs allow on entry a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable amount of perfume per adult. One litre of alcoholic beverage may be brought in per person 18 years of age or over. Goods up to the value of U.S.$1,000 per person may be brought in as gifts. Cameras, video cameras, portable radios, cassette recorders, binoculars and sport equipments are admitted. They must be declared to Customs.
Prohibited are firearms, narcotic drugs, pornography, transceivers and cordless telephones. Chinese traditional medicines must be registered by Depkes RI. Films, pre-recorded video tapes and laser disks must be screened by the Censor Board. There is no restriction import or export of foreign and travelers cheques. However, the import and export of Indonesian currency exceeding Rp100 million is prohibited.

Climate-wise, Indonesia is distinctly Tropical. Tropical climate varying from area to area. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather (June to September), while the western monsoon brings the main rains (December to March). Rainstorms occur all year. Temperatures range from 21°C (70°F) to 33°C (90°F). Higher regions are cooler.