ORANJESTAD — From now on, Columbian travelers will be able to travel to Aruba much easier. This is due to an adjustment in the visa policy. Minister Otmar Oduber (AVP) of Tourism is pleased with the changes and even wants to take this a step further by abolishing the visa requirement for Columbians.
According to Oduber the arguments with which the visa requirement for Columbians was introduced in 2003, are no longer valid. The objectives of the policy at the time are no longer applicable. Oduber states the tourism sector of Columbia looks forward to visa-free traveling to Aruba. In that connection, he refers to travel agents and other representatives in the branch besides tourists. The most recent change in the visa requirement for Columbians regards the abolishment of the regulation that a Columbian must first have traveled to a country with which the Kingdom has treaties, before he may enter Aruba. In that, it regards Canada, the United States and countries that have signed the Schengen Treaty. “That was a very inconvenient situation because it often meant that a group of travelers, for example family members, could not travel together as some people already had used their Canadian, American or Schengen visa, whilst others had not. In similar situations, many Columbians therefore choose a different destination than Aruba.”
Oduber estimates that the visa adjustment will bring 30 to 40 percent more Columbians to Aruba. “There are currently many wealthy people in Columbia who indeed have the other visa – the one of America, Canada and Schengen – but 35 percent of these people never use this visa, which doesn’t make it easy for them to visit Aruba.”
Oduber further states that one is currently viewing at Kingdom level whether the validity of the Columbian visa could be extended from one to three years. Another possible change is letting Columbians use their visa several times. The use of the visa is currently restricted to only a few times, which particularly impedes the business contact between the Aruban and Columbian tourism sector.
Oduber states he would gladly see that the visa requirement is abolished entirely. However, no political agreement has been reached just yet.
Source: Amigoe