The Secretary of State for Tourism and Wildlife, Dr. Alfred Mutuaclosed the 3rd East African Regional Tourism Exhibition and the 13th Magical Kenya Travel Expo at the KICC in Nairobi on November 22, 2023. In his closing speech, Dr Mutua urged the countries of the region to put aside their rivalries and work together to promote the region.
Promoting tourism in East Africa: a collective approach is needed
Dr. Mutua stressed the need for a change in strategy to attract more tourists by combining resources for marketing, promoting the region as a unique destination and turning challenges into opportunities. He proposed a multidimensional approach including:
- Identify and map tourist attractions,
- The creation and development of tourist circuits throughout the region,
- Investment in tourism infrastructure to improve accessibility and comfort for visitors.
Improved accessibility for passengers
Dr Mutua also emphasized the need to simplify visa applications by limiting constraints. To achieve this, he suggests offering visas on arrival or e-visas options to facilitate tourist travel.
Sustainable development and tourism safety
In addition to facilitating administrative procedures, Dr Mutua spoke of the importance of sustainable practices in the tourism sector, which include :
- The use of technology to improve the overall visitor experience,
- Ensuring passenger safety by implementing effective safety measures and clearly communicating safety instructions.
A step towards a visa-free continent?
The closing speeches were attended by the South Sudanese Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Lt. Gen Rizik Zakaria, and the South African Deputy Minister of Tourism, Amos Fish. The shared aim is to unlock Africa's tourism potential by moving towards a more sustainable tourism sector. visa-free continentpromising a brighter future for the tourism industry throughout the region, and for Africa as a whole.
Tanzania: forthcoming integration into the East African Visa project
The " East African Visa "is a visa that allows travelers to visit three East African countries - Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya - with a single document. This visa is particularly useful for tourists wishing to explore several of these countries on the same trip, as it eliminates the need to obtain separate visas for each country.
Initially reluctant to join this joint project, Tanzania may change its position. Indeed, according to some reports, it is well on the way to joining the project. East African Visa and thus boost regional tourism by enabling tourists to visit Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya on a single entry visa. This would undoubtedly boost tourism figures in all the countries concerned.
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