Rwanda launched the use of a single tourists Visa in US

 The 3 East African countries which are Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda have launched the East African Single Tourist Visa in Washington, United States and this was done in an effort to increase tourism to the region. It was launched by Mathilde Mukantabana, Rwanda’s Ambassador together with Ambassadors Jean Kamau and Oliver Wonekha from Kenya and Uganda respectively at the Embassy of Rwanda.

 There were representatives from the US Department of State and visa agencies in the Washington D.C. area who attended the event and others were members of the US business community and civil society organizations.

Mukantabana then confirmed that traveling between the three countries has become easier for tourists and residents. For that matter, there is hope for increased economic power for the three states of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda. The East African Single Tourist Visa will not only strengthen our trilateral relations, but also showcase the diversity our countries have to offer, so he added. Earlier this year in February, the East Africa Single Tourist Visa was launched by Presidents of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in Kampala.

 According to the arrangement, the visa costs $100 and it is valid for 90 days, and will be paid at the point of entry in a member country or foreign missions and in this case, the  issuing country takes $40, including $10 for administration cost, while the other two members will share the remaining $60. Once you get this single tourist visa, then you are free to move around three countries without seeking any more travel documents.

Tour agents say that since its introduction, movement of tourists has been eased by eliminating bureaucratic tendencies during pursuit of visas. Tourism is Rwanda’s top foreign exchange earner just like the case is in all the other East African countries and it fetched government about Rwf178 billion last year. Today, the sector has recorded investments worth more than $32.8 million just this year as revealed by a source from the Rwanda Development Board.

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