Good news for Bali-bound Australian travellers… tourists visiting the Indonesian island will now be able to speed through Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (aka Denpasar) after the province officially introduced automated gates in the international arrival and departure terminals.
The new auto-gates will be available for travellers with an e-Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) as well as tourists from ASEAN (Southeast Asian) nations with electronic passports.
There are 60 gates for arrivals and another 30 for departures.
Progressively installed over the past few months, the gates form part of a national initiative to enhance Indonesian immigration services, for foreigners and citizens alike.
According to the Bali Sun, Denpasar Airport welcomes 18,000 tourists a day, which rises to 36,000 a day during the peak season – and this puts immigration at the hotspot’s gateway under immense pressure. It is hoped the new gates will alleviate this stress.
Jakarta Airport has already been operating the gates for the past few months, reportedly to some success.
Bali done better
With the e-VOA enabling faster passage through Denpasar, the Indonesian government is urging tourists to opt for the electronic visa over the regular Visa on Arrival.
Both visas cost the same and are valid for an initial stay of 30 days. You can apply for an e-VOA no later than 48 hours before travelling to Indonesia.
To use the smart gates, visitors simply scan the QR code attached to the e-VOA together with their passports.
On 14 February, the Bali Provincial Government introduced a new tourist tax of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (around AU$15).
