By Manuel Vigo
Peru This Week
This week the governments of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia agreed to collaborate on the implementation of a new joint smart visa system, El Comercio reported.
The agreement was signed at the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Summit, on Tuesday.
Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Jose Luis Silva said the new system would make it easier for tourists to get visas electronically.
“This common visa will allow a tourist to get his visa through the internet, and with it, travel to three countries, therefore avoiding the expenses of requesting a different visa for each country,” Silva said, according to the daily.
The new joint visa is expected to go into effect in late 2014, and other countries could eventually become part of the group.
“Moving to a smart visa policy is a wise decision for these Latin American countries, which will see tremendous benefits for their economies,” said Marriott International President and Chief Executive Officer Arne Sorenson, Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum on Latin America.
“The new jobs and exports generated by travel and tourism will fuel Latin America’s growth, as companies like Marriott continue to invest in the region.”
