adminTanzania continues to dilly-dally on the operationalisation of the East African single tourist visa, which would make the region a single tourist destination.
Dodoma is still reluctant to be part of the East African Community (EAC) Single Tourist Visa (STV) on the grounds that the bloc is yet to address the security and financial implications of the scheme.
Tanzanian officials raised the matter at the EAC Council meeting held in June this year. The major issues are security, revenue sharing, the efficiency of the single visa regime and visitor screening.
Dodoma believes that there is no STV framework worthy of the EAC, and that a 2010 study on the readiness of the member states to implement STV has been overtaken by events and, therefore, a new study is needed to assess the current situation.
But Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, who are implementing the plan, have said they are satisfied with the initiative. And now, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan have expressed willingness to join the STV initiative.
At a Tourism and Wildlife Management Sectoral Council meeting held on October 19, 2023 in Arusha and chaired by Burundi Minister for Environment Prosper Dodiko, the EAC resolved to seek consensus on STV before implementation next year.
“The EAC Treaty provides for cooperation in the sector whereby partner states undertake to develop a collective and coordinated approach in tourism promotion and management of wildlife resources. I urge you to have fruitful discussions on this matter,” Mr Dodiko said.
The current STV is issued to persons travelling to and within Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda for tourism. — The East African.
Online Reporter