The Galapagos Islands are set to become yet more
exclusive with the arrival in October of a new visa system for both Ecuadorian
and foreign visitors.

Expected to
force 3,500 illegal inhabitants to leave the islands, la Tarjeta de Control de
Transito (TCT) – a secure plastic identification card - will cost $10 per
person.

The new
regulations, spearheaded by El Instituto Nacional Galapagos (Ingala) and El Parque
Nacional Galapagos (PNG), are designed to monitor the number of residents on
the island and to encourage workers to leave when their contracts end.

In June
this year, the province was added to the World Heritage list of endangered
sites on the recommendation of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

The
decision was made after a joint mission by IUCN and UNESCO in April which found
visitor numbers to the island increased from 40,000
in
1996 to 120,000 in 2007.

David
Sheppard, head of the IUCN delegation in Christchurch, said: “The main problems
associated with the Galapagos Islands relate to the impact of tourist growth, which is driving immigration
and overfishing.”

Each
tourist card is valid for 90 days and is to be issued by Ingala through
airlines and travel agencies. Official working and residential visas are also
available for those who produce valid documents.