The Indonesian Department of Immigration has deployed over 100 additional staff to Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit next month. While the national airport agency and central government have built a new VVIP Terminal building for the events in Bali, the additional staff will operate between commercial arrivals and delegations arriving at both the international arrivals halls and the VVIP terminal building.
A total of 117 staff have been sent to Bali from immigration offices across Indonesia. Officers from Palembang, Semarang, Bandung, Solo, and Jogjakarta have arrived in Bali in preparation for one of the most significant international events that the Island of the Gods has ever hosted. The Indonesian Department of Immigration has also transferred additional resources in the form of computers and other immigration-checking equipment to ensure that the whole operation runs smoothly.
The Head of the Special Class I Immigration Office at Ngurah Rai, Sugito, told reporters, ‘The addition is to speed up the flow of arrivals during the G20 Summit. The first 44 staff members have arrived, with more heading to Bali in the coming days. He continued to explain, ‘Immigration has also prepared a special immigration check counter for the G20 Summit delegation, which will be filled with 12 officers with a target of 720 immigration checks per hour.
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He confirmed that immigration checks on heads of state will be held in the VVIP terminal and that ministers and high-level delegates will be welcomed into the VIP building. Diplomats, representatives, and staff who do not require higher levels of security clearance will be processed at the commercial international arrivals hall. Sugito said, ‘Kanim Ngurah Rai has carried out mapping and plotting of officers. Mobile units used for immigration checks for delegates at the VVIP/VIP level have also been prepared’.
Those arriving at the commercial international arrivals hall as members of G20 delegations will have a designated G20 2022 Immigration Check Queue. This, once again, will help ensure that commercial arrivals remain unaffected by the huge influx of G20-related foot traffic.
Sugito explained to reporters that although many high-profile members of delegations will be arriving on private charter flights, even more members of the delegations will be arriving on commercial flights. He advised commercial travelers, for example, those coming to Bali on holiday to see family or other non-G20 related business, that there are predicted to be peak times where foot traffic will be higher than usual.
This will be especially true in the days running up to the G20 Summit. The main event is being held from 15th-16th November, with many people arriving from the 8th of November and not leaving the island until the 22nd.
Sugito said, ‘For these delegates, there are those who use commercial flights, there are special flights. For delegates who use commercial flights, peak hours are usually from 14.00 WITA to 18.00 WITA; and at 20.00 WITA to 22.00 WITA [will be] busy or peak time at Ngurah Rai Airport’.
Travelers who will be in Bali around the G20 event are reminded that there may be road diversions, road closures, and even beach closures for VVIP press calls and field trips. While most events are being held in and around Nusa Dua, field trip events are being hosted around Bali in the days after the main summit. Travelers and locals have been advised that there will be increased police, military, and secret service presence on the streets of Bali, and there will be both uniformed and covert officers on duty.
Despite global political tensions, it remains the case that all heads of state from all of the G20 member states will be attending the summit. This includes US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is in addition to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, newly appointed UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunk, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other key world leaders.
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Wayan Bo
Wednesday 26th of October 2022
Yeah sure, the presidents of G20 states will have to show passports to get VoA as well as their team members.
Exp
Wednesday 26th of October 2022
So now they can mobilize staff to reduce the long queues?
I talked with a family yesterday arriving here in Bali. Just out of the aircraft they met "agents" offering fast track service for 300k per person. They declined and had to endure long queues.
This is just a disgrace. They have a poor system in place and the fix is to have passengers to pay up for a reasonable service?
These campaigns over the last few years to eliminate corruptions (tidak pungli) has resulted standard service being very slow, while at the same time "offering" expensive fast track using "agents". These "agents" are of course using the same immigration service but are getting priority making it even longer lines for those not using "agents".
Randy
Thursday 27th of October 2022
@Exp, hello. Before you scream at the top of your lungs, corruption, The Bali Bible offers fastrack at a minimal cost. My American friends applied for a fast track online and were quoted lower than whatever price these people were asked for. They were met at the gate and escorted through in less than 15 minutes smiling along the way at those poor souls waiting in line. It was very professional and a courteous service. So either you purchased a fast track or wait in line like everyone else. There isn't a miracle through immigration and customs be it here or elsewhere. What do you expect everyone is coming here post pandemic. Sigh.
I am always wondering why are people even in Indonesia if they keep complaining!!!
J West
Tuesday 25th of October 2022
I hope customs police are going to thoroughly check G20 attendees for drugs and porn. There are always famously degenerate cretins embedded in these junkets.
Wayan Bo
Friday 28th of October 2022
@J West, sure that cocaine will be imported.
Ben
Thursday 27th of October 2022
@J West, oh well, you know how that works out: it's considered diplomatic papers, regardless if it's a storage of drugs or an ecrypted CD card or USB drive. These G20 bobo's have little to worry about.