Ecuador opened its border freely to Colombian citizens on Monday as part of the country's efforts to attract investment and boost tourism despite a diplomatic rupture with Colombia.
Colombians no longer require a visa or police record in order to cross the border into Ecuador, authorities said.
The move is part of the proposals by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to open the country's borders freely for citizens from almost all the countries around the world, a plan expected totake effect later this month.
Currently Ecuador demands visas by citizens from 131 countries around the world and most will soon be able to travel freely to Ecuador without a visa.
The Ecuadorian government expects the measure to boost investment and tourism in the country. Tourist spending in 2007 contributed about 800 million U.S. dollars to Ecuador's economic growth.
Citizens from countries like Guatemala, Mexico and Indonesia can already visit Ecuador without a visa.
Correa said he didn't expect reciprocal principles regarding visa-lifting. Countries including Mexico and Guatemala would continue to demand visas by Ecuadorians due to pressure from the U.S. government, which regards these countries as a transit zone to the U.S. territory.
Ecuador severed diplomatic ties with Colombia following a cross-border raid by the Colombian government army against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerillas in March.
Colombia accused neighboring Ecuador of harboring Colombian rebels, a charge Ecuador has denied.
Source:Xinhua
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