Travel
Formalities and Useful Hints
November 14, 2007
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Notice:
Visa
requirements are subject to change without prior warning.
Please read the announcement
Immigration
Any foreign national who enters
territory of Indonesia is required to possess a valid Travel Document and
the Entry Permit or Visa. Some foreign nationals do not need to apply for a
visa, they are those who are permitted to use Visa Free for Short Visit
Facility. All other foreign nationals are required to possess a Visa. For
more information, click this link.
Visas are issued to those persons
who are visiting Indonesia on government work, on business, social-cultural
activities and holiday purposes.
Health
International
health certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required, except from travelers arriving from infected areas.
Customs
Indonesian
customs allows on entry a maximum of two litres of alcoholic beverages, 200
cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reason able amount of
perfume per adult. Cars, photographic equipment, and tape recorders must be
declared to customs upon entry and must be re-exported. Prohibited from
entry are TV sets, radios, narcotics, arms and ammunition.
Advance approval has to be required for carrying transceivers and all movie
films and video cassettes must be censored by the Film Censor Board. Fresh
fruit, plants and animals must have quarantine permits.
"Indonesia
has strict drug laws, and it is firmly recommended that illegal drugs of any
amount or quantity should not be brought into or out of the country."
There is no
restriction on import or export of foreign currencies. However, the export
or import of Indonesian currency exceeding Rp. 50.000 is prohibited.
Exit
Airport tax
levied on passengers for international flights is Rp. 75.000,- for travel
within Indonesia regional variations occur, expect to pay an average of
about Rp. 12.000,-
Clothing
Dress
is normally informal in Indonesia due to the warm, humid climate and
clothing of light fabrics are recommended. Traveling in highland areas is
noticeably cooler, however, and carrying a light sweater may prove useful.
accepted attire for men is a shirt and long pants. A jacket and tie are
required for official calls or for more formal occasions. Long sleeved batik
or hand-woven shirts are acceptable for evening functions. For ladies,
dresses, blouses, and long pants are appropriate. Shorts, halters or tank
tops should only be used at sports facilities or on the beach.
Office Hours
Business
offices are usually open either from 8.00 am to 4.00pm or 9.00am to 5.00pm,
with a break for lunch between 12.00 noon and 1.00pm, but on Saturday many
business offices are closed. Government office hours are from 8.00am to
3.00pm from Monday to Thursday, 8.00am to 11.00am on Fridays and until
2.00pm on Saturdays.
Banking
Normal
banking hours are from 8.00am to 2.30pm from Monday to Friday and until
12.00pm on Saturdays. Some bank branches in hotels, however, keep longer
hours.
Jakarta has several international banks but money can also be changed at
hotel cashiers, and authorized money changers. Daily exchange rates are
published in newspapers The US dollar is the most readily accepted currency.
Most major tourist destination areas have foreign exchange facilities, but
for travel to remote areas, it is advisable to change money and travelers cheques in advance. Credit cards are acceptable only at major hotels,
restaurants and travel agencies.
Shopping
Major
cities in Indonesia have shopping complexes. Supermarkets and department
stores where prices are fixed. shops are usually open all week including
Sundays. Shopping hours are usually between 9.00am and 9.00pm for department
stores and supermarkets in the large cities with shorter hours on Sundays.
In smaller cities, shops may be closed between 1.00pm and 5.00pm.
Bargaining is customary in small shops and markets, the art of which is to
start at half the asking price and slowly increase your offer until a
compromise is reached. Remember it helps to smile while bargaining.
Sports
Traditional
sports in Indonesia include bull races, bull fights, rowing and unique ram
fights, all of which are held as part of special festive ties. Silat, a
martial art, can be performed as a dance or an exercise and is comparable to
Karate or Kung Fu. However, the most popular sports in Indonesia are soccer,
badminton, and table tennis. Golf is becoming more and more popular and a
number of excellent golf courses can be found across the archipelago. Most
major hotels have their own tennis and squash court, swimming pools, health
clubs and those at seaside resorts provide equipment for sailing, surfing,
scuba diving and windsurfing. There are also a growing number of dive shops
which provide necessary equipment and professional services.
Time
The
Indonesian archipelago is spread over three time zones. Western Indonesia
Standard Time, which covers the islands of Sumatra, Java and Madura, West
and Central Kalimantan is 7 hours ahead of GMT; Central Indonesia Standard
Time covers East and South Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, and
is 8 hours ahead of GMT; finally Eastern Indonesia Standard Time, which
covers Maluku and Irian Jaya is 9 hours ahead of GMT.
Electricity
Power
supply is usually 220 volts/50 cycles in large cities, but 110 volts is
still used in some areas. Normal outlets are plugs with two rounded pins. It
is advisable to check electricity supplies before using any appliances.
For more info
about tourism in Indonesia, visit:
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Official
site of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism website: http://www.budpar.go.id
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he
Official Web-site of Indonesia and Bali Tourism, tourism
information on 30 provinces of Indonesia, with maps, accommodations,
places of interest, and history http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/
Read also:
INDONÉZIA
- ...zivot pod Merapi... (Slovak) Autor:
Gabriela Hrdá
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