Kenya relaxes visa restrictions amid tourism boom

Kenya has joined 21 other African countries in lessening visa restrictions for those travelling within the continent as part of a concentrated effort to boost tourism.

After taking the oath of office for his second term, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has moved to increase collaboration with other nations on the continent as tourism continues to grow in prominence as a key economic driver.

In 2016 Africa saw international tourism receipts of some $35bn being met with increasing private, and public investment in the tourism industry.

The rapid adoption of large integrated resorts and infrastructure improvements have made Africa’s largest cities some of the most fertile tourists spots in the world, a trend that seems set to continue into 2018 and many years to come.

These efforts by national governments to adopt visa liberalisation policies are towards the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 policy document, that outlines seamless borders and could increase Africa’s tourism revenues by about 25 percent.