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Cape Town - The Kenyan Government has just introduced a new e-visa service for UK and Irish travellers, effective July 2.
Travellers headed to the East African country can now apply for an e-visas prior to their arrival in Kenya via its e-visa portal.
Tourism Update reports there will be a two-month transition position, until the e-visas become compulsory from 1 September, when visitors will be required to register for their e-visa in advance. Approval for the e-visa can take up to seven days.
READ: UK poll shows SA’s new visa rules are putting Brits off from holidaying here
Until then visitors can either purchase their visa in person at the Kenya High Commission in London, at the Kenyan Embassy in Dublin or on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
In contrast, South Africa has introduced new visa rules that have been touted as a measure to combat child-trafficking and decrease passport fraud – yet they’re seen as a serious barrier to entry and impacting one of South Africa’s most sustainable economic drivers, the tourism industry.
Recent changes to SA's immigration and visa policy specify that tourists coming from countries whose citizens are required to have a visa, need to appear in person during the visa application process and for all minors travelling to and from South Africa to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate in addition to their passport, where applicable.
Previously, South Africa allowed Kenyans to transit through local airports at no charge and without a visa. The strict new visa rules for Kenyans visiting SA now cost in excess of R3 000 and have a 7-day approval period attached to it, with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amina Mohammed, calling it a trade violation.
READ: New SA visa rules: Is Home Affairs using SA taxpayers’ money effectively?
According to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), the department of home affairs could have implemented a far more cost-effective solution when it comes to the collection of biometric data.
TBCSA says a second impact study it commissioned by from Grant Thornton indicates it would have been more cost effective to implement the collection of biometric data on arrival at South African borders than to implement the same system in SA's various consulates and processing centres across the globe.
Research shows that countries with visa on arrival policies as well as e-visas have significantly grown their inbound tourism numbers.
READ: E-visas - the way forward
TBCSA Corporate Communications Manager Kagiso Mosue told Traveller24, "By our estimates, around 115 biometric readers would be required to meet the needs of South Africa’s 69 border posts, [South Africa's] many smaller border crossings would only need one reader whilst larger posts like OR Tambo would need a significant number."
The impact assessment study shows that the cost to install biometric readers at South African consulates would be around R17.5 million compared to the R7 million to install the same system at all of South Africa’s border posts - showing a significant difference of R10 million.
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