safarimama

Single tourist visa for East Africa?
Wanna' take bets?? Here's what I'm reading today: www.tourismupate.co.za

The introduction of a single tourist visa for East Africa could be implemented by as soon as June. The East African Community (EAC) ministerial council on Tourism and Wildlife Management at a meeting of the Sectoral Council considered the report of the task force on the study for the introduction of the single tourist visa in the East African community.

The ministers directed the secretariat to expedite the process for the implementation to June this year.

A work plan for the study and piloting of single tourist visa from February to September 2010 has been developed and test runs are expected to involve nationals from South Africa, the UK, USA, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium and the Scandinavian countries.

atravelynn

Any mention of costs?

safarimama

No idea of the cost? Do you think it will happen?

sandi

the link doesn't work.

But as you say "wanna bet?"

Cost, of course, would be important whether covering all 4/countries - Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda - or those visiting only one country!!! We'll have to see what they come up with.

ShayTay

Here's the link:

http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsD...x?newsId=21398

I'll believe it when I see it. There has been talk of doing this for years. I remember seeing the same thing 5 years ago when I was going to Tanzania.

safarimama

Tourist visa fees waiver still on for Kenya

http://www.nation.co.ke/business/new...z/-/index.html

By LUCAS BARASA
Posted Saturday, March 13 2010 at the link above

The reduction in visa fees which was put in place by the government from April 2009 will continue, a government official said on Saturday.

The reduction of visa fees from $50 to $25 and scrapping of the same for children less than 16 years coming to Kenya was aimed at stimulating demand for family travel and was set to last for one year.

Addressing an international media conference in Berlin, acting permanent secretary in the Tourism ministry Eunice Miima said the visa reduction has been a major incentive that has contributed significantly to the 90 per cent recovery to the 2007 levels.

“This was stimulus package that has contributed to tourist growth of between 10 – 15 per cent in 2009 despite the global financial crisis”, said the PS at the International Tourism Bourse in Germany. The move has also been welcomed by tour operators.

In regard to the single entry visa for the East African region, the PS said the Heads of States of the region have already approved its introduction and its implementation is expected to begin by mid this year.

The lack of a common visa has been a major drawback towards marketing East Africa as a single tourist destination.

Foreign tour operators have complained of cumbersome immigration procedures at border entry points for those who wish to cover various circuits in East Africa.

The requirement for tourists to disembark from Kenyan tour vehicles to board Tanzanian ones while crossing into Tanzania is a major setback to international and local tour operators even though Kenya allows tour vehicles from the EAC to operate within the country.

Mrs Miima said the issue was being addressed by the two countries through the EAC and would be resolved soon.