The unvisa between Zambia and Zimbabwe has been successful and will be extended to Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique, Zambian Minister Of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata said at a Ministerial round table discussion on the eve of Tourism Indaba.

“Between Zambia and Zimbabwe, we have a story to tell; a success story; a story of a univisa,” said Kapata. She explained that the univisa was started as a pilot project, emanating from the two countries co-hosting of the UNWTO conference. “We saw that our people were able to cross the borders without visas,” she said. “We thought we would take it a step further.”

Kapata said the project had been very successful and it would be extended to other SADC countries including to Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. She explained that this would mean tourists would, at the same fee ($50) be able to visit more SADC countries. “As Africa, we need to work together for univisas,” she said. Kapata added that it was expensive for tourists to pay separate visas fess when visiting more than one country.

The Minister went on to say that it was also important for the participating countries to collaborate in their marketing initiatives so that tourists made use of the univisa and visited more countries.

Other ministers in attendance highlighted visa challenges as a barrier to tourism growth on the continent, while delegates in attendance questioned when a univisa or regional visa would be rolled out across the continent and called for the implementation of e-visas.

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