The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has proposed implementing an African visa system similar to the Schengen visa, aiming to streamline travel within the continent and boost tourism.
NTB Acting Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Mbidzo emphasised the importance of catering to African markets and visitors, highlighting the need for seamless movement across the continent.
“We’ve invested years in making Africa an attractive destination for them to spend their money. Therefore, we need to create packages that cater to their preferences. Additionally, we must recognise the need for our region to emulate what Europe has done,” he said at the Namibia and Tanzania Investment and Trade Forum last week.
Mbidzo added that European travellers are crucial, and considering the extensive distances they cover in Africa, thus offerings must seamlessly complement their journeys.
He further highlighted the necessity of infrastructure development to support the proposed visa system, drawing parallels with the seamless travel experience in Europe.
“In Europe, upon landing in Madrid or Frankfurt, you’re within a region where movement is seamless. Why can’t we replicate that model? We have the aspiration to enter, but we also need the infrastructure to support it,” he explained.
The proposal comes amid challenges in intra-African travel, particularly concerning air connectivity and visa regulations.
Mbidzo highlighted the high costs associated with air travel within Africa compared to international routes.
“Air Lift is one of the biggest issues within Africa. To travel from Bangkok to Dodoma, it’s more expensive than to travel from Bangkok to Frankfurt,” he noted.
Addressing visa barriers, Mbidzo acknowledged past challenges where commercial visas hindered travel between African countries.
This development coincides with a recent commitment by officials from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe — the nations comprising the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area.
At a summit held last week, officials pledged in principle to expand the utilisation of a specialised visa, known as a uni-visa, facilitating entry into multiple countries.
A Zambian official stated that the pilot KAZA Uni-visa, implemented from 2016 to present, has demonstrated considerable success between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
He emphasised that it has resulted in approximately 29,000 and 100,000 visas being issued by Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively.
Consequently, he said this initiative should be extended to include all KAZA member states.
