Tourism coalition of the willing formally launches common tourist visa

One is tempted to say all is well which ends well, as after much “birthing complications” the common tourist visa for Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya has finally been launched last evening at the ITB in

One is tempted to say all is well which ends well, as after much “birthing complications” the common tourist visa for Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya has finally been launched last evening at the ITB in Berlin, where the three delegations, united under one stand this year, told the world that they are now ready to welcome them with less bureaucracy and greater user-friendliness.

Fastest out of the blocks, no surprise there, was the Rwanda Development Board which beat the others to the door again with their press release on the event:

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Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda made an announcement on the introduction of the East African single joint visa, which took effect on 1st January 2014. The Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda Ministers and High Commissioners and Tourism Board Heads officially graced the launch of the new cross-border visa today at Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda common pavilion at this year’s Internationale Tourismus-Borse (ITB) held annually in Berlin.

The tourist cross-border visa between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda costs USD$100. The single tourist visa resulted from a joint initiative and decision made by the Heads of State of the respective countries. Before the establishment of the single entry visa for Kenya was US$50 (approximately £30), for Uganda was US$50 (approximately £30), and Rwanda was US$30 (approximately £18).

Kenya’s Minister for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Mrs. Phyllis Kandie applauded the joint tourist move: “This will enrich the tourist product offering in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The region will benefit from an increase of tourists and number of days spend in these countries that have a wide range of products. The region is bound to harvest a much larger share of the over 50 million tourists visiting Africa each year.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza said:

The launch of the cross- border visa is a huge milestone in our regional integration efforts that will continue to largely benefit tourists. We have already felt its positive impact, since January 1st, 2014, as we are noticing an increasing number of travelers to the East African region. With this partnership, our unique selling point as a region is highlighted as we have a wide range of experiences to offer.

The launch of the East Africa single tourism visa at the Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya tripartite meeting is a strong signal of the East African commitment to the integration process and marketing East Africa as a single destination. The visitors from our source markets will be able to benefit from the multiple-entry visa provision to tour the sister countries’ Hon. Dr. Maria Mutagamba, the Uganda Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiques confirmed.

Uganda is delighted to join her neighbors in providing greater value for the tourists and facilitating the movement of people through the Great Rift Valley states that share much commonality but provide a diverse range of natural and cultural attractions. The minister further notes that this initiative will makes the region more competitive and is bound to reduce the cost of doing business in the region.

The introduction of the Joint tourist visa has so far boosted regional travel, adding value to the tourism product offerings of these countries and highlighted the diversity of East Africa.

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Alongside, for domestic travel, IDs have now been sanctioned for the citizens of the three countries to cross national borders between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, making travel, and trade, easier for the people in the region, and while Tanzania has until now decided to stay out of the new system, Burundi has of late signaled her willingness to join the three in due course in order to benefit from increased tourist traffic.

No word could be obtained though on the crucial issue of travel by registered expatriates who reside in one of the three countries, about their situation vis-a-vis the need for visa when entering for instance Kenya from Uganda, which in the past denied substantial traffic citing the high cost of visa, and prompting many expatriates to rather fly to the Gulf, to South Africa or to the Seychelles where they do not require visa and easily save US$200 in fees for an average family of three. While those issues were raised to key individuals in the run up to the introduction of the common visa, it is now all but clear that having to deal with logistical issues made them put this critical element off their agenda.

Wrote one leading travel agent from Kampala when responding to the question: “From all we know will expatriates with work permits or residency permits in Uganda still have to pay a visa to enter Kenya of 50 US Dollars. That, as you have often pointed out and which is entirely true, diverts traffic from Kenya’s beach resorts to other places where these people need no visa. In addition those destinations are competitively priced too and therefore deny Kenya quite a bit of revenue, not that they care from what I see because I know the issue has been raised and ignored.”

Hence, in conclusion, a significant event no doubt but one which needs a fresh look in order to truly tap into the full potential of regional travel and not sideline if not outright shun the expatriate community. Fodder for thought no doubt for those who can see the writing on the wall.

About the author

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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