02.12.2025 07:25
The Rodrigo Paz government, which ended 20 years of rule by winning the elections in Bolivia, has lifted the visa requirement for U.S. and Israeli citizens. Paz stated that Bolivia lost over 80 million dollars in revenue due to the visa requirement, arguing that it brought more harm than benefit.
The center-right government of Rodrigo Paz, which won the elections in Bolivia and ended a 20-year rule, announced that they have lifted the visa requirement for U.S. and Israeli citizens.
THEY LIFTED THE VISA REQUIREMENT
Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo, speaking at a press conference held at the Government Palace in the administrative capital La Paz, provided an assessment of the agenda. Aramayo stated that the visa requirement has been lifted for visitors from South Korea, South Africa, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania, primarily to promote tourism, and mentioned that they expect to generate at least 320 million dollars in tourism revenue between 2026 and 2029.
LOSS OF REVENUE EXCEEDING 80 MILLION DOLLARS
Aramayo criticized the previous government without naming it, stating that the visa requirement imposed on tourists from various countries since 2008 was based on "economic" and "ideological" reasons. President Rodrigo Paz also argued in his speech that Bolivia lost more than 80 million dollars in revenue due to the visa requirement, claiming that it brought more harm than benefit.
MORALES HAD INTRODUCED A VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THE U.S. AND ISRAEL
During the presidency of former Bolivian President Evo Morales, a visa requirement was introduced for U.S. citizens in 2007. This practice was lifted in 2019 by then-interim President Jeanine Anez, but the visa requirement was reinstated by former President Luis Arce on February 8, 2021.
The visa requirement for Israeli citizens was implemented in 2014 during the Morales government. Rodrigo Paz, who won the second round of elections held on October 19, ended the 20-year rule of MAS, known as a leftist movement in Bolivian and Latin American politics.