Unspun

Can this possibly be true? If so it is probably one of the biggest news NOT reported by the mainstream media.

Buried in the bottom of page 54 of the 11-25 April 2007 edition of the The Bali Advertiser is a small “local news” item headlined: KITAS Visa Holders…save money now! It reads:

“According to the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, the Fiskal exit tax is no longer in effect for travelers from Indonesia to other ASEAN nations. However, there has been no public announcement and there are no signs at the Fiskal desk at Bali’s airport about this. KITAS holders traveling to ASEAN countries who no longer automatically pay the Fiskal are not challenged at the Immigration desk (The Fiskal desk still accepts the Rp 1,000,000, however, if a KITAS holder does automatically pay it!!!)”

If true this is good news and at the same time preposterous for a government to implement a policy and not announce it. Unspun does not know how true this report is but the next time he flies to another ASEAN country he will surely try to get away with not paying and let you know if it works. If any KITAS holders have tried it before, let the rest of us know whether this report is bona fide.

As Karl would put it: “Kitas holders of Indonesia unite, you only have your Fiskals to lose.”