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Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE has launched an e-visa platform for China and India. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said the development was expected to result in an upsurge in arrivals of tourists from the two Asian countries who have the largest populations and biggest economies in the world.
“India and China have the largest populations in the world which makes them the best countries for us to tap tourists from. The fact that they are both expansive geographically gave rise to the need for us to have the e-visa so that wherever they are in their countries, they can just apply for visas on the internet,” he said in an interview in Victoria Falls yesterday.
Mr Kaseke said while Zimbabwe had embassies in New Delhi in India and Beijing in China, processing of visas manually used to take time forcing some tourists to opt for destinations without cumbersome visa-regimes.
“E-visa is very good for us in the sense that they (tourists) will apply on-line and get the response in time since the Department of Immigration is only taking less than four days to respond. Some have been asking why citizens from European countries who put sanctions were applying for visas at the port of entry and why we would want the people from China and India to apply for visa before they arrive here.
I told them that it was not our decision but rather their governments that said we should put them in place for reasons best known to them,” he said.
Mr Kaseke said Zimbabwe was one of the eight countries in Africa which had an approved destination status (ADS) from the Chinese government.
He said other countries with the ADS include Kenya and South Africa adding that these host thousands of tourists from China.
“We expect to receive 20 000 Chinese by the end of the year up from 9 000 received last year and by 2015 we expect to hit the 50 000 figure.
As for India more effort needs to be channeled towards marketing our destination there because last year, we received about 5 000 but we are optimistic that with the e-visa regime, more tourists will come from that country,” said Mr Kaseke.
He applauded the Government for committing resources to the promotion of the country to the world.
“We need to put more money in making our presence known out there. It is the only way other countries will know about us,” he said.
Online Reporter