Continental stakeholders in the tourism sector are now calling on African countries to offer visa on arrival for visitors from African countries or abolish it completely in an effort to boost the sector and improve intra-Africa tourism.
The Stakeholders who met in Nairobi for a two-day conference of the African Union ministerial subcommittee of tourism, say that in order to establish the African brand, the single air traffic market will play a catalytic role for the development of the tourism sector in Africa.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for tourism Najib Balala also added that the continent needs to improve security and look at ways to package product available noting there are similar products in different countries.
‘’We need to make it affordable to come to the continent of Africa and also intra- Africa travel is key we cannot continue to make it very expensive to travel among neighbours than to travel over seas to other continents. I want to salute the African Union for the single air market courtesy of the open sky policy but we need to do more than just open sky’’ He said.
The forum happened in the backdrop of warnings from tour drivers and guides from Kenya and Tanzania on drying up of the Mara River, complaining that the peak season ended earlier than usual.
The Wildebeest returned to Serengeti prompted complaints from many international visitors who say they did not get value for their money.
The Tourism sector remains a key source of income for many African Countries.
