Sunday, July 14, 2024 Kenya’s tourism industry is experiencing a surge! Visa free to the world, they recently scrapped visa requirements for all nationalities, a move that initially thrilled travelers. But here’s the twist: a new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is now in place in Kenya In January of this year, Kenya abolished the visa requirement for international travelers. Last December, during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations in Nairobi, President William Ruto declared the move, marking a significant shift in travel policy starting in early 2024.
President Ruto first introduced the concept of visa-free travel across Africa in October of the previous year in Congo-Brazzaville, promising visa-free access for all Africans by year’s end. Gone are the days of visa applications. Now, everyone entering Kenya requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) .
Think of it as a streamlined visa – a digital permission to enter with a processing fee. This shift to an ETA system prioritizes security. It allows Kenya to maintain a comprehensive database of incoming and outgoing travelers.
However, the application process itself might make you miss the simplicity of visas. Kenya’s tourism sector stands to benefit significantly from this policy. For many, an African safari is a dream adventure, but the logistics, costs, and paperwork can be daunting.
Eliminating the visa requirement simplifies these challenges. The Kenyan Economic Unit anticipates an average GDP g.