Taken from Associated Press

Commemoration of the 9/11 terror attacks is bound to lead some travelers to wonder about safety, especially for overseas travel.

Fortunately, traveling around the world is still statistically no more dangerous than traveling across your hometown. Indeed, as at home, most dangers and annoyances on the road revolve around sickness, theft, and accidents — not political violence or terrorism. Thus, the same common-sense precautions that serve you well at home should help keep you safe on the road.

Should political violence or terrorism capture headlines, the secret to avoiding trouble is not to cancel your travel plans, but to keep yourself informed. Just because the evening news shows unrest in Iraq, for instance, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s dangerous to visit Jordan or Egypt. By the same token, the evening news might habitually ignore the political situation in Africa, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to visit many parts of Sudan or Somalia.

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On May 23rd, 2006, the Indonesian authorities confirmed that Dutch passport holders will be granted a so-called visa-on-arrival (VOA) upon their arrival in Indonesia. The passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months after the date of entry into Indonesia.

The VOA is valid for a minimum period of seven days and a maximum period of thirty days. The costs involved are USD 10 for a seven-day and USD 25 for a thirty-day visa. The visa can not be exchanged for another legal residency and can not be extended. For a stay of more than thirty days you should request your visa at the Indonesian embassy in The Hague or in your country of residence as before.

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