Bolivia relaxes visa rules for travelers from the US and Israel

LA PAZ, Bolivia Starting Monday, visiting Bolivia has become simpler for travelers from certain nations, as the countrys first conservative administration in nearly two decades removed visa requirements for citizens of the United States, Israel, and several other countries. This change is part of a broader effort to reshape Bolivias economic and geopolitical stance.

Previously, visitors from the U.S., Israel, South Korea, South Africa, and several Eastern European countries needed to apply for and pay for tourist visas. Now, these travelers can enter Bolivia with only a valid passport for stays of up to 90 days.

Bolivia boasts diverse attractions, from snow-capped peaks reaching 20,000 feet to the lush Amazon rainforest and the worlds largest salt flats, yet it has often been overlooked by tourists heading to neighboring Brazil and Peru.

The visa change reflects President Rodrigo Pazs initiativewho assumed office last month following the long-dominant Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) partyto strengthen ties with the U.S. and stimulate economic growth by boosting tourism. Bolivia is currently grappling with a severe shortage of U.S. dollars, affecting imports and slowing economic activity.

During former left-wing President Evo Morales tenure (2006-2019), relations with the U.S. were tense. Morales, a former coca union leader, pursued policies of anti-American sentiment, expelled the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, dismissed the U.S. ambassador, and imposed visa restrictions on U.S. citizens. He argued for reciprocity, noting that Bolivians face a $185 fee and a complicated process for U.S. visas. Morales also cut ties with Israel during the 2014 Gaza conflict, requiring Israeli travelers to obtain visas, while Bolivia aligned more closely with Russia, China, and Venezuela.

After Morales resigned amid mass protests over alleged electoral fraud in 2019, interim President Jeanine ez temporarily lifted the visa requirements for U.S. and Israeli citizens. However, Morales MAS successor, Luis Arce, reinstated the restrictions in 2020.

Officials estimate that Bolivia lost approximately $900 million in revenue due to reduced visa fees since 2007 and project $80 million in additional tourism income over the next four years under the new policy. We must restore the worlds confidence in Bolivia as a safe and attractive destination, Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo stated.

Despite the change, the U.S. State Department continues to advise travelers to exercise caution in Bolivia due to civil unrest, maintaining a Level 2 travel advisory. The coca-growing region of Chapare, where Morales is reportedly evading arrest, remains under a Level 4 Do Not Travel warning.

In addition to easing visas, President Paz has recently cut certain corporate and wealth taxes and announced plans to incur more debt, aiming to stabilize Bolivias economy amid its most severe crisis in four decades.

Author: Sophia Brooks