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ZIMBABWE and Zambia are set to unveil a single visa regime to drive the growth of their tourism amid revelations the neighbouring countries are realising only an average $1,2 billion in annual receipts from Victoria Falls. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi told regional diplomats and consulates representatives that the uni-visa would be unveiled in Victoria Falls during the 10th meeting of SADC Ministers of Tourism next week.
The single visa regime between Zimbabwe and Zambia was first launched on the 4th of this month at the World Travel Market in London and Minister Mzembi said, already, there was marked interest from source markets abroad.
This comes amid concerns that Zimbabwe and Zambia, due to access issues, share a mere $1,2 billion annually from Victoria Falls tourism compared to the US’ Niagra Falls’ $30 billion, despite it being several times smaller.
“We are moving to make sure that the tourism sector performs (optimally) by removing all bottlenecks inhibiting growth,” the minister said. Access into and across countries is considered a major constraint.
Minister Mzembi said the visa regime was a culmination of a resolution made by SADC Heads of State and Government in 1998.
Last year, President Mugabe and his late counterpart, Michael Sata, directed that the single visa regime be adopted after its success during the global tourism event Zimbabwe and Zambia co-hosted in Victoria Falls in August last year.
The two countries temporarily used the concept during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s 20th General Assembly last year, after which President Mugabe and the late Zambia leader Sata said they wanted the system adopted “as the norm and not exception”.
The tourism minister said the single visa system, to be extended to other Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area members in the second phase, would improve movement of tourists between the two countries to help grow arrival numbers and receipts from tourism activities.
Minister Mzembi said the single visa is being introduced on a pilot run as part of a grand vision to extend it to all SADC member countries.
It will cost $50 and will be valid for the 30 days tourists in Zimbabwe or Zambia while allowing day trips to Botswana,
The visa will ensure convenience for visitors from over 40 countries across the world including Britain, US, Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Russia, Sweden, Spain, New Zealand, Denmark, Australia, Austria, France Canada, India, Holland and Portugal among others.
“We are not reinventing the wheel; we are simply doing what other progressive economies are doing across the world. In Europe, you enter one EU member country, you enter 27 others . . . This is the first step towards promulgation of the SADC uni-visa,” Minister Mzembi said.
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