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AFP | | Posted by Krishna Priya Pallavi, New Delhi
Kenya stated Friday it had welcomed the primary batch of international vacationers who arrived underneath a simplified entry system it hopes will encourage extra guests. The federal government’s immigration companies division stated the “maiden visa-free arrivals” landed in Nairobi from Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa and extra had been anticipated to the touch down in coming days. (Additionally Learn | Iran, Thailand enable visa-free entry to Indian passport holders; checklist of locations to journey with out visa in vacation season)
Immigration and Citizen Companies Principal Secretary Julius Bitok stated visa necessities could be waived for all travellers to Kenya no matter nationality.
Underneath the brand new system, travellers apply on-line for an digital journey authorization (ETA)and pay a $30 “processing” payment.
“Proper now… all international locations world wide together with Africa, Asia, America, Australia, and all around the world, are in a position to are available in visa-free,” he stated on the launch of the scheme at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport.
Final 12 months, President William Ruto introduced that Kenya would develop into a “visa-free nation” and current necessities could be waived come January.
Even so, as lately as final Tuesday the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority warned the brand new ETA system was “within the strategy of improvement and implementation.”
The variety of vacationer arrivals in 2022 rose to 1.54 million, nonetheless beneath pre-pandemic ranges, in response to tourism ministry figures. (Additionally Learn | 2024 Lengthy Weekends: Finest locations to journey in India in your lengthy weekends in 2024. See detailed itinerary)
Kenya Tourism Board chair Francis Gichaba voiced hope in November that the determine might prime two million within the newest monetary 12 months, surpassing the 2019 determine of 1.9 million.
This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.