In Reply to: Hooter would know this, if anyone posted by Fiona on Wednesday, 25. June 2014 at 09:59 Bali Time:
If, if this is true - it's probably the right thing for them to do.
Their currency has devalued easily between 20% to 30% in the past year alone.
Visa prices (apart from the removal of the 7 day visa) have not changed since 2005.
Do you know by how much Australia increased their visa costs last year? Almost 50%.
You are getting much more rupiah to the dollar - even with this increase you will still have a cheaper holiday like for like than you would have done 2 years ago, and that's on the back of a poor performing AUD.
For those of us lucky enough to be exchanging strong currencies such as the pound sterling. Wow. I have seen exchange rates go from 13000rp low up to over 20,000 currently. Yet I can book the same hotel, for the same cost per night as I did since 2011. Giving me a 45% saving on accommodation costs. :-) happy days.