Single Tourist visa on course in East Africa Written by DR. WOLFGANG H. THOME, ETN CORRESPONDENT. (eTN) - Experts from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda met in Kigali yesterday to advance discussions on how to implement the directive of their heads of state to have a single tourist Visa available from 2014 onwards, to enhance the flow of tourist visitors across the three countries without any added fees. The same meeting also discussed the implementation of passport-free travel for citizens of the three countries, simply using existing ID cards in the case of Kenya and Rwanda and of voter cards in the case of Uganda. Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have found themselves spearheading developments which under the auspices of the East African Community were long overdue but failed to take off over constant objections and querulations by one member country in particular. Uganda hosted a first summit of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ a few months ago in Entebbe, and Kenya hosted another summit just two weeks ago, during which yet more progress was made. Another summit will be held in two months in Kigali to review what the panel of experts has agreed on before implementing Visa and ID travel arrangements. The cost of 100 US Dollars for a Visa covering all three countries will be shared equally, with each country being allocated 30 US Dollars while the first entry point country will get a further 10 US Dollars for administration cost. Official were hard pressed to alleviate suggestions that Tanzania and Burundi were left out of the exercise, but it was clear that the three would no longer be held back in implementing what is good for them while leaving the doors open for others to join, whenever they were ready to do so. The information was received with great enthusiasm by the tourism sectors of the three countries where hopes are high that the measures will increase visitor numbers and revenues. It was pointed out though that provisions must be made for duly registered...
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 11:05:28 +0000
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