This interesting article appeared in "Travel Impact Newswire" which came in my email this morning under the heading
REVIEW TRAVEL ADVISORIES SAYS "AUSTRALIA 2020" REPORT
the content of which comes from PM Rudd's 2020 Summit in which 1000 Australians from diverse backgrounds met at Parliament House, Canberra on 19 and 20 April.
One hopes that the Australian Government may see the advantages to be gained by reviewing its stance on Travel Advisories.
Admittedly Australian visitor numbers to Indonesia are increasing dramatically but there are, however, so many (e.g. Defense Personnel) who are still prohibited from travelling because the present Travel Advisory for Indonesia. There are also so many who, because of family pressures based on the Travel Advisories, decide not to travel to Indonesia.
"A golden opportunity to open a new chapter in positively addressing this issue arose when Prime Minister Rudd visited Indonesia. According to a report in The Australian newspaper, tourism from Australia to Indonesia was discussed in the talks between Mr Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono. However, according to report in The Australian, Mr Rudd described the travel advisories as being the result of independent conclusions by the National Threat Assessment Centre, and downplayed them as being a 'disagreement among friends.'
That comment basically was a reaffirmation of the long-standing Australian party-line that ensuring the safety of its citizens abroad is a paramount consideration in the issuance of travel advisories. However, ensuring the safety of Australians in Indonesia, and in fact everyone in Indonesia, visitors and residents, is also the concern of the Indonesian government which is clearly doing everything possible in that regard.
Had that call been heeded for a review of travel advisories in the Australia 2020 report, the Prime Minister would have been seen to be taking a huge step forward in achieving the broader, holistic context of his objective to re-engage Australia with Indonesia, and indeed Asia at large. Times have changed and such a review is long overdue anyway. Although the opportunity was clearly lost, it is still not too late to revisit the issue, this time by focusing not just on security considerations but all the wider contexts cited in the report itself.
Undertaking such a review will send a clear signal that Australia is serious about re-engaging with Asia in an atmosphere of mutual respect and via recognition of mutual concerns, not a one-way street that makes Australian objectives appear to be more of a priority than Indonesian concerns. It will also build on the positive image generated for Australia throughout Asia by the Rudd Government's signing of the Kyoto Protocol, the apology to the indigenous people and the pullout of Australian troops from Iraq.