Kenya,
Uganda and Rwanda recenly presented their joint single tourist visa to the
world during the just-ended International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in
Berlin, Germany. Heads of delegations from the three East Africa
Community nations that are part of a tripartite agreement praised the move on
the visa, launched three weeks ago by Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Paul
Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda as a bold move that will boost
regional integration and ease the movement of tourists across the
region. http://www.kws.org/info/news/2014/13march2014.html
Kenya’s
Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Ms Phyllis
Kandie said whereas in the past tourists visiting the three countries had to
seek separate visas in a cumbersome and costly process, all they needed now was
to acquire one visa at 100 US dollars and visit the three states as many
times as they wished for three months.“This will harmonize
immigration procedures, help curb cross-border insecurity, enable tourists have
a one-stop border check point and generally open the region for more visitors,”
she said.
In
a speech read on her behalf by Kenya’s Ambassador to Germany Mr Ken Osinde, Mrs
Kandie said by introducing a single Visa, the three countries are signaling
their intention to jointly promote the landscapes, wildlife and
experiences they are endowed with.“Through this initiative, which we hope will
eventually involve all the five partner state of the EAC, we will be
highlighting the unique attractions to be found in each country," she
added.
Mrs
Kandie said the tripartite arrangement will see the countries have
joint stands in international travel and trade fairs. “We ask the world to take
notice of this key joint initiative that will see the East African region
transform into a destination of choice for many travelers whether for pleasure
or business” she said
Uganda’s
Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Ms Agnes Akiror
Egunyu said the single Visa represented the most cost effective offer to
tourists in terms of time, money and the variety of attractions to see.
She
said tourists will be lodging their applications for the single Visa at
embassies, consulates or diplomatic representation and once issued, the holder
of an EAC tourist Visa will enter the country that issued it and subsequently
move within the other two countries without applying or paying for Visa.
Rwanda’s
charge de affairs in Berlin, Mr Felix Sangano said Rwanda was
experiencing a tourism boom fueled mainly by regional visitors and hoped
that with the entry of the single visa, more international visitors will throng
the country.“We are extremely excited by this move, count as us to fully
support it," he said.
Mr
Muriithi Ndegwa, the managing Director of the Kenya Tourism Board, said
the region will now be expected to benefit from an increase in
tourists arrivals. “The region is bound to harvest a much larger share of
the over 50 million visitors who come to Africa annually” he said.
Earlier
in the day, Kenya Wildlife Service acting Director General Mr William Kiprono paid
a courtesy call on NABU, the German conservation organisation that started a
fund to support survivors of Kenyan rangers killed in the course of active
duty. He was accompanied by Mr Edwin Wanyonyi the KWS Deputy Director for
Strategy and Change and Mr Paul Udoto, the Corporate Communications
Manager.
The
delegation was hosted by the NABU Vice President and CEO Mr Thomas Tennhardt
who said: "We cannot protect wildlife without rangers yet most support
doesn't focus on their welfare and that of their defendants. We wanted to
highlight the plight of rangers and help tell the stories behind their
experiences in the field protecting wildlife.
Mr
Kiprono said the initiative was the first of its kind to support frontline
staff like rangers and would greatly motivate those who risk their lives
protecting wildlife.He thanked NABU for the initiative noting that 10,000 Euros
had been disbursed to KWS and would soon be distributed to families to support
education of departed rangers.
Sharon
C
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