The announcement during the ongoing World Tourism Market (WTM) in United Kingdom will see Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda adopt a joint visa that will facilitate free movement of tourist and citizens alike.
At present tourists travelling between the neighboring East African countries must obtain a separate visa for each nation, therefore Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are partnering in order to simplify travel arrangements for holidaymakers, as well as creating a new brand for the whole region in turn opening up opportunities for joint marketing campaigns.
Speaking at the World Travel Market in London, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie, Uganda’s Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities Hon Agnes Egunyo and Rwanda’s High Commissioner to UK Ambassador William Nkurunziza said the deal was a major boost to tourism.
“We have been in discussion over this matter for the last six months and we are proud today to announce that we finally have a joint visa that has made the three countries borderless. This is an opportunity for us to increase tourist numbers as we will jointly offer diversified tourism products,” Kandie said.
She noted that the single joint visa will now enrich on diversity and at the same time increase the value of the tourism sector products in the region.
Rwanda’s UK envoy noted that the single joint visa was cost effective and will boost the strategy of re positioning tourism products in the region.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities said, “Visitors to our region will benefit from the new, more convenient multi-nation visa and will see the improvements in security, immigration systems, infrastructure and capacity building that this system brings.” She also lauded the joint visa deal and observed that the venture will make the three member states competitive and while at the same time build on regional integration.
Tanzania, a competing country in tourism and other economic pillars in the region was not represented at the launch.
“Other EAC members will join us along the way since we have not locked anyone out,” said Kandie while responding to media queries on the absence of Tanzania in the deal.
The joint visa has worked in other regional blocs with member countries leveraging on comparative advantages and maximizing on it by pulling together their efforts and marketing the region as a single destination.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa said the single joint visa comes at the right time when Kenya is tapping into the regional market to grow her tourism pie.
“The single visa is long overdue, it will now not only ease movements within the member states but would also allow the tourists to maximize value for money,” Ndegwa said.
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