Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda Launch a Single Tourist Visa at the ITB in Berlin

A single visa for the EAC has been launched at the ITB in Berlin.

The new visa which came into effect on 1st of January 2014, will allow multiple entries into the three countries within a period of  90days and will cost €100.

The single tourist visa resulted from a joint initiative and decision made by the Heads of State of the respective countries. Before the establishment of the single entry visa for Kenya was USD 50, for Uganda was USD 50, and Rwanda was USD 30.

Kenya’s Minister for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Kandie, through a speech read by H.E. Ambassador Ken Osinde, applauded the joint tourism initiative that it would promote the varied landscape and species of the three East African countries. “This will enrich the tourist product offering in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The region will benefit from an increase of tourists and number of days spent in these countries that have a wide range of products. The region is bound to harvest a much larger share of the over 50 million tourists visiting Africa each year.”

The CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, Valentine Rugwabiza said that the cross-border visa is a huge milestone in regional integration efforts. “We have already felt its positive impact, since January, as we are noticing an increasing number of travellers to the East African region. With this partnership, our unique selling point as a region is highlighted as we have a wide range of experiences to offer.”

“The launch of the East Africa single tourism visa is a strong signal of the East African commitment to the integration process and marketing East Africa as a single destination,” confirmed Maria Mutagamba, the Ugandan Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiques. “The visitors from our source markets will be able to benefit from the Multiple Entry Visa provision to tour the sister countries.”

County representatives also took the chance to advertise their counties.