Kenya marked a significant milestone Friday by becoming the first country to implement a visa-free entry scheme for foreign tourists.
The East African nation has removed visa requirements for travellers, irrespective of their nationalities, to encourage a surge in international tourism.
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said Kenya expects to double tourist arrival numbers by the end of the year.
“We have made sure that traveling to Kenya is going to be an easy and pleasant experience. We have been receiving about 2 million tourists per year but we believe that with this policy shift, the numbers will double, to over 5 million per year,” he said.
Kenya introduced a cutting-edge electronic travel authorization (ETA) system, replacing traditional visas with a simple online application process.
The streamlined process incurs a minimal $30 processing fee, providing a hassle-free entry experience for global travellers for a 90-day stay.
The initiative aims to boost the tourism sector and foster international relations.
The implementation of the visa-free entry scheme comes as part of strategic efforts to revitalise Kenya’s tourism industry, which has been adversely affected by global travel restrictions in recent years.
