AGP Executive Report
Last update: 13 minutes agoUS Visa Bond Goes Permanent: The U.S. has made its refundable visa bond programme permanent, letting consular officers require B1/B2 business and tourist applicants from 50 countries (including São Tomé and Príncipe) to post deposits up to $20,000 before visas are issued, with full refunds only if travellers comply and leave on time. Citizenship-by-Investment Under Pressure: São Tomé and Príncipe is also in the spotlight for selling “golden passports” for $90,000 to fund energy and development, a move happening as the EU cracks down on similar schemes elsewhere. Diplomatic Outreach: Serbia’s foreign minister met São Tomé and Príncipe’s PM Americo Ramos, praising the country’s stance on Kosovo and discussing expanded cooperation in education, health, agriculture, digitalisation and culture. UNESCO World Heritage Boost: UNESCO added 25 new World Heritage sites, including Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe, with the committee also noting first-time inscriptions for São Tomé and Príncipe. Tourism Positioning: A new report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s “authentic tourism” model—conservation-led, low-crowd travel—aimed at protecting biodiversity while attracting visitors.
Note: AI summary from news headlines; neutral sources weighted more to help reduce bias in the result. Feedback is welcome. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about the AGP Executive Report.
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