In a notable turn of events, Peru’s Foreign Ministry has revoked its earlier decision to enforce a visa requirement on Mexican visitors. This decision was taken due to implications for the nation’s tourism industry and the country’s devotion to the free movement of people and goods.
The visa requirement was initially abolished with the implementation of the April 8 Supreme Decree. The reversal of the decree seems to stem from economic factors. The tourism sector in Peru, based on 2019 statistics, contributed almost four percent to the nation’s GDP and employed around 725,000 individuals. This equates to roughly 4.1 percent of the country’s total workforce. Further to this, the sector is regarded as a primary area for sustainable growth as Peru seeks to reduce reliance on natural resource extraction.
Another facet to be considered is that Peru, along with Mexico, is a member of the Pacific Alliance. This organization fosters the “free mobility of goods, services, resources, and people.”
The initial Supreme Decree to remove the visa-free travel for Mexican citizens occurred following a similar measure established by Mexico on April 4. Mexican authorities’ decision to impose visa requirements was a response to the considerably increased influx of Peruvian nationals entering Mexican territory for purposes not authorized under their visitor status.
This incident puts a spotlight on the escalating number of migrants and asylum seekers passing through Central America and Mexico en route to the US. The number of migrants continues to robustly increase, with many finding themselves stuck in Mexico due to restrictive immigration policies implemented by US border states such as Texas and Arizona.
According to Jurist, these new visa requirements are drawing attention to the influx of migrants and asylum seekers heading to the United States via Central America and Mexico.