Writes Leo Odera Omolo
The East African community member states have lined up several projects to increase tourism earnings from the current USD 7.billion to USD16 billion annually.
Sources at the Arusha based secretariat of the EAC have quoted top officials as saying that the plan is aimed at doubling the number of tourists visiting the bloc from 5 million to 10 million annually.
The planned investments are expected to cost USD 3.95 billion by the year 2020 up from the present USD 1.65 billion.
THe envisaged projects include the introduction of a single tourist visa, a single passport, classification of hotels, increased marketing spend and training of personnel’s in the hospitality industry.
The EAC ministers responsible for tourism are expected to hold a meeting before the end of June, this year to discuss the establishment of the single tourism visa and hotel classification in the member states.
Frustration is growing among the business people over delays in pushing through key projects like opening up the regional airspace, rolling out a single passport and visa, the elimination of non-tariff barriers {NTBs}
They claim the delay in implementing the EAC Common Protocols are slowing the expansion of tourism, trade and business envisaged by the protocol.
EAC Principal Tourism Officer Shedrack Mashauri said the bloc plans to negotiate with the regional airlines like the Rwandair and the Kenya Airways to increase the connecting of flights across the region.
Nearly 60 per cent of tourists budgets goes into air tickets. This money could remain in the region, if we had well established local airlines with strong connection into local market,”said Mashauri,adding that such arrangements would also be made with the international airlines.
According to the plans, a tourist would apply and pay for a visa fee in any of the five member states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Brundi and South Sudan, and thus visa would be applicable for travels to all the countries in the region, thus necessitating a proper revenue sharing formula.
It is anticipated that issuance of a single of a single EAC visa and passport will not only ease the movement of people across the region, but significantly boost the regional drive to promote the bloc as a single tourist destination.
Plans are also underway to harmonize policies and have standard training and certification, particularly the tourist guides and hoteliers.
“We want tourists to stay longer in the region, hoteliers and tour guides will be required to be committed to exceeding tourists expectation with great customer service and highest degree of professional ethics,” said Mashauri.
The classification of the hotels is nearly six years overdue said to be due to financial constraints.But the executive secretary oif the Association of Tanzania tour operators ang guide has assured the stakeholders that the matter would be resolved soon.
Ends