Colombia, Peru and Ecuador signed a letter of intent to implement a single tourist visa for all three countries, while taking part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday.
The agreement, signed at the WEF’s’s Travel and Tourism Summit in Lima, Peru’s capital, is considered to be the first step in implementing a joint electronic visa system for the three countries.
“States should consider gradually eliminating traditional visa procedures and replacing them with a smart visa electronic system that creates a common visa and increases the facilitation of tourist travel and the security of states,” said José Luis Silva Martinot, Minister of Trade and Tourism of Peru. “Easy and hassle-free availability of visas is one of the basic ingredients for attracting foreign tourists. Increasing international demand for tourism represents a clear opportunity for governments to encourage visitors to spend, thereby stimulating job creation.”
Such a system would improve mobility for international tourists and increase the attractiveness of the three contries as a tourist destination, thus seek to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
With the signing of the letter, “tourism ministers and government representatives will commence collaboration among the relevant government entities in their countries,” according to the WEF press release.
Sources
- Three Latin American Countries Sign Letter of Intent on Smart Tourism (WEF Press Release)