TWO MINISTERS AGREE TO RESTORE VOA RATE

Batam, Feb 6 (ANTARA) - Minister of Law and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar and Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik reached agreement to restore the visa on arrival (VoA) single tariff, Riau Islands Governor Ismeth Abdullah said here Friday night.

Ismeth made the disclosure in Batam when launching the organizing committee of the Raja Haji Fisabillilah Cup Riau Strait Swimming Competition and Marine Festival 2020.

With the two ministers' approval to night, he said, there would no longer be any problem in reaching the set target of number of foreign tourists.

Tourism and business circles having to do with other countries had been rather disturbed in the last couple of weeks as the government starting on January 26, 2010 will apply the VoA at a single rate of 25 US dollars both for a visit of 7 or 30 days.

he restoration of the VoA rates would at least cause calm to the head of the Batam Tourism and Cultural Agency Guntur Sakti in carrying out the Batam Tourism Visit Year 2010, the governor said.

The swimming competition and marine festival are scheduled to be held on June 19-20 at the Ro-ro termianl in Kabil, Bintan island, and at Pertamina's Tongkang Pier in Kabil, Batam.

Ismeth hoped to the organizing committee chaired by Rear Admiral Darojatim, that the championship of crossing 10 km of the sea would be published by focusing on Batam and Bintan islands because they are already well-known in other countries.