More African states are liberalising travel for their peers, indicating a positive trend towards more open travel policies on the continent.

Africa is moving toward greater integration as more states make progress in their freedom of travel policies, the latest edition of the African Visa Openness Index (AVOI) reveals.

This comes on the back of a revived push for a single African air transport market, with an initial pilot involving 17 African states to facilitate air mobility on the continent.

In a boost for African economies, AVOI figures show travel within the continent has become more open in 2022, with an even split between visa-free travel and travel where a visa can be obtained on arrival.

In the past year alone, 10 countries on the continent have improved their visa openness score, allowing more travellers to enter African countries without restrictions.

Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles now offer visa-free entry to Africans from all other countries, whereas, in 2016 and 2017, only one country did so.

Twenty-four African states now offer an eVisa, five more than five years ago while 36 others have improved or maintained their Visa Openness Index score since 2016.

Furthermore, 50 countries have maintained or improved their score relative to 2021, often by removing some of the pandemic-induced visa policy restrictions implemented during the pandemic.

Most states (48) now offer visa-free travel to the nationals of at least one other African country, and 42 countries offer visa-free travel to the nationals of at least five other African countries.

Lower-income countries make up a large share of the top-20 ranked countries on the index with liberal visa policies, with 45 per cent classified as low-income and a further 45 per cent classified as lower middle-income.

The AVOI index analyses the visa requirements of each country on the continent and tracks changes in their scores over time.

TRAVEL DEMAND

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Acting Vice President, Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery African Development Bank (AfDB) notes that Africa has made great strides towards returning to pre-pandemic normality in 2021-22.

“The vast majority of countries eased restrictions on movement. Industries that bore the brunt of the pandemic — tourism, hospitality, and others — are rebounding and travel has surged, both within Africa and around the world,” she stated in response to the report.

“The increase in travel is driven in large part by pent-up personal demand, but also by the realisation that many businesses depend on human movement, and that investment thrives on it.”

The rise in visa-free travel and eVisa availability is seen as a promising development for Africans, who have historically faced significant barriers to travel within the continent.

The easing of restrictions is also positive for African economies, which stand to benefit from increased tourism, and gives impetus to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is gaining traction.

According to African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the links between free movement and the development of regional value chains, investment, and trade in services are clear.

“There is greater recognition that human mobility is key to Africa’s integration efforts,” she said.

While there is still room for improvement, the trend towards more open travel policies is seen by analysts and agencies alike as a step in the right direction, coming at a time when Africa’s post-COP recovery needs all the help it can get.

OPEN SKIES

Seventeen African nations are to start testing the Single African Air Transport Market between their territories, fully opening their skies to each other as part of the pilot – a first for the continent.

Intra-African air travel under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an initiative of the African Union to create a unified air transport market in Africa, is edging closer to reality, after 17 countries committed to a pilot programme.

At a meeting in Dakar on November 14, the ministers of transport and aviation from 17 countries launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) pilot to open their air transport markets to each other.

The countries are: Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Niger, Gabon and Zambia. 

At the meeting, on the 23rd anniversary of the Yamoussoukro Decision, the nations also agreed to streamline their national airline service agreements.

The Yamoussoukro Decision is a treaty adopted by most members of the African Union establishing a framework for the liberalization of air transport services on the continent. Currently, 35 African countries are signatories of the agreement.

Despite the existence of the treaty, most African airlines have remained under protectionist policies.

SAATM hs receiving backing from key agencies, such as the African Civil Aviation Commission.

According to Adefunke Adeyemi, the secretary general of the African Civil Aviation Commission, “the commission will actively engage and collaborate with stakeholders to proceed with clear actions and timelines to achieve SAATM implementation.”

The 35 countries signed up to the SAATM Solemn Commitment of unconditional implementation constitute over 80 per cent of the continent’s aviation market.

In a 2020 report, Geopolitical Intelligence Services estimates there are 731 airports in Africa, half of which are internationally served by about 419 airlines.

The successful implementation of the Pilot Implementation Project and eventual full take-off of SAATM would have immense benefits for the continent, especially now that there are buzzing trade activities under the African continental free trade area (ACFTA).

According to the International Air Transport Association, IATA, “SAATM will open up Africa’s skies and promote the value of aviation throughout the continent by boosting traffic, driving economies and creating jobs.”

LIBERALISATION BENEFITS

A 2014 survey by IATA, Transforming Intra-African Air Connectivity: The Economic Benefits of Implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision, estimates that liberalisation of 12 African air markets would generate an additional 155,000 jobs to the sector and would attract about US $1.3 billion annually to the GDPs of the individual markets.

An even more recent study commissioned by the African Union dubbed ”Continental Study on the benefits of SAATM and Communication Strategy for SAATM Advocacy” indicates that the initiative would amass US $4.2 billion to the GDP, generate 596,000 new jobs besides leading to 27 per cent reduction in air fares, while also contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, UN-SDGs.

In the short term, the pilot programme presents a lucrative opportunity for airlines from the continent to expand their operations into different markets.

Bilateral agreements between different countries that are current signatories to the SAATM programme and some legible members that will take part in the pilot project provide a great starting point for the full realisation of the programme.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Cote d’Ivoired’Ivoire are the most recent parties to come out and commit to bilateral agreements that appreciate SAATM guidelines. They will reinforce their cooperation in the air transport sector.

Through an agreement signed on 22 November in Abidjan, there were “modifications in accordance with the Yamoussoukro Decision following the commitments made by the two countries for the implementation of immediate measures necessary for the establishment of the single market for air transport in Africa” a joint press statement from the parties read in part.

South Africa, a key player in the continental air travel market, is strengthening its capacity by opening up smaller airports and elevating them to meet continental standards.

For instance, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, located 27km northeast of Nelspruit, will receive intercontinental flights. Flight 4Y142 from Frankfurt, Germany, via Namibia landed in the facility for the first time on November 16.

The tourism-rich city of Mbombela is projected to reap big from the upscaling of the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.

The popular recently-signed bilateral agreements between Kenya and South Africa add to a long list of inter-African aviation agreements that offer a base point for realising a single African air market.

Source: The Star

It’s now officially 3 years since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the global economy, and put a lot of industries on hold, but slowly and surely economic activities have since resumed, and are quickly reaching levels that the world was accustomed to.

Amongst these affected industries was travel and tourism, which was the worst hit. Domestic and international travel restrictions defined the global lockdown, and even after 2 years since the pandemic was declared over, countries like China were still hesitant to ease up on travel restrictions.

Fortunately, the past few months have seen the rectification of this issue as China eased up its travel restrictions, being one of the last countries to do so.

With eased access to foreign countries, tourism sectors across the world can start returning to peak pre-pandemic form.

In light of this, the US-based news agency, CNN, released a report listing the 23 best tourist destinations for the year 2023.

“International tourism was expected to reach 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, with some areas recently reaching levels closer to 80% or 90% of their 2019 arrivals. And experts are cautiously optimistic about a continued travel rebound.” An extract from the report stated.

CNN also noted that now would be the best time to book these trips as prices are expected to skyrocket once tourism begins to heat up.

The CNN list details 23 countries to visit in 2023 based on its tourism sector, specific reasons to visit said countries, and specific locations to see if you choose to travel to any of these destinations.

Below are the 4 African destinations that made the list

Rwanda: This country is on CNN’s list based on the opening of its new hotel, Sextantio Rwanda. This hotel is touted to be the first project outside Italy for Daniele Kihlgren, whose part-hotel, part-living history projects keep local tradition alive. The hotel is an exciting wildlife adventure complete with a 1,000-square-mile lake, Volcanoes National Park, numerous exotic animals, and fun-activities tailor-made for a natural experience. Also, there is the 4,500-square-meter Ellen DeGeneres Campus which opened in 2022 via the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Its visitor center includes exhibits, virtual reality gorilla encounters’ and nature trails. Rwanda is also home to some of the most exotic wildlife in Africa.

Tanzania: Tanzania has been one of Africa’s prime tourist destinations for years now for a slew of reasons, its wildlife, hospitality, its security, etc, and it is for these very reasons that CNN has this country as one of its 23 tourist destinations for 2023. With sights like Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, UNESCO world heritage site Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar Archipelago, among its many highlights, it’s easy to see why this country is on the list. Also like Rwanda, Tanzania’s Delta Hotels by Marriott brand is making its Africa debut with the opening of its Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay property later this year.

Egypt Cairo: It’s hardly any surprise that this country is on this list, owing to its magnificent sites like the pyramids of Giza, historic Islamic architecture, and rich blend of history and cross-continental cultures, but CNN has Egypt on this list for additional reasons. Egypt is expected to complete the construction of the GEM museum, the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, costing around $1 billion and holding the entire King Tut collection.

Uganda: Uganda is easily one of the friendliest countries in Africa, not just from the hospitality of its people but also its serene and awe-inspiring wildlife conservation centers. Uganda, according to CNN presents an emphatic opportunity for adventures owing to scenes like the expansive shores of Lake Victoria, the snowy Rwenzori Mountains, treks through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the craters of the Virunga volcano chain, the Ugandan 1,600-kilometer unpaved 22-stage Cycling Trail, and whitewater rafting along the Victoria Nile, amongst others. Not to mention the region’s local cuisine.

Source: Business Insider Africa

Uber also launched its latest innovative travel feature, Smart Itineraries

Dubai: Uber announced a strategic partnership with Dubai Airports, to improve riders’ on-ground commute experience when arriving in Dubai. The partnership comes in preparation to meet the growing operational needs in Dubai, as tourist arrivals in the city peak this winter.

Uber also launched its latest innovative travel feature, Smart Itineraries.

Once riders link their Uber profiles with their Google account by clicking on ‘Travel’ in the app, it displays upcoming travel plans and allows people to reserve an Uber to and from specific locations based on hotel and flight bookings, making the travel experience even more seamless. Smart Itineraries is part of the Uber Travel Suite of Offerings globally, with a range of features expected to launch in the region soon.

Pia El Hachem, General Manager, Uber UAE and Levant commented: “Our mission at Uber is to help people move around their cities more seamlessly. This partnership with Dubai Airports and the launch of Uber Travel will streamline the traveling experience for tourists and residents alike by making stress-free and reliable transportation more accessible and easier to use. We will continue to expand our services to accommodate increasing travel needs, through the power of our technology.”

Uber’s pick-up zones

Uber’s new vehicle staging area at Dubai International (DXB) will hold over 125 vehicles, allowing for a short, estimated time of arrival (ETA) for passengers at the pick-up zone.

As part of the partnership, Uber and Dubai Airports will be increasing pick-up zones capacity in all terminals, including twelve parking bays, and in-terminal wayfinding. According to the International Air Transport Association, airlines in the Middle East have continued to see strong demand with passenger traffic more than doubling in September compared to a year earlier.

The partnership is particularly relevant for residents who travel within the GCC frequently, as well as expats who go back and forth between Dubai and their home country.

Eugene Barry, Executive Vice President of Commercial at Dubai Airports said, “As operator of the world’s busiest international airport, and gateway to one of the world’s most vibrant cities and destinations, we are at the forefront of convergent consumer needs and traveler expectations. Dubai Airports partnership with Uber is designed to enhance the degree of service and convenience for our guests, while complementing our existing range of ground transport options to and from DXB.”

Recent government data revealed that tourism arrivals in Dubai have bounced back to near pre-pandemic levels with the city receiving more than 10 million visitors from January to September 2022, compared to 12.08 million in the same period of 2019.

DXB is the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic, and is anticipated to be a major regional hotspot with travel picking up in the coming months. It recently raised its 2022 passenger forecast to over 64 million, having already welcomed 46 million passengers this year.

Source: Gulf News

The embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kenya on Thursday, December 29, revised travel requirements for Kenyans heading to the Asian country.

According to the notice, China relaxed some restrictions imposed on Kenyan travellers, especially during the pandemic in 2020.

Commencing January 8, 2023, Kenyan travellers will be required to take nucleic acid tests within 48 hours before their flight departures. No Kenyan will be allowed to board a China-bound plane without a clearance certificate.

However, China’s embassy added that Kenyan travellers would be exempted from obtaining a health code before departure.

Upon arriving in China, Kenyans will be expected to fill out a customs form to declare the test results to shield the country from the pandemic.

At the entry point, Kenyans who post positive test results or have any fever symptoms will be required to self-quarantine.

“Given the ongoing pandemic, the above adjustments do not mean the easing of disease control. Travellers are advised to take primary responsibility for their health and use precautionary measures for self-protection,” the Chinese embassy stated.

 “The Chinese government will continue to monitor the latest trends of the pandemic and adjust the disease control practices accordingly to facilitate the entry and exit of personnel,” they added.

Before announcing new travel rules, Kenyans headed to China had to obtain three tests before being allowed to depart.

According to a notice released in April 2022, Kenyans were expected to obtain a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, nucleic acid, and antigen test 48 hours before boarding a plane.

Travellers were also required to obtain a health code from the embassy in Nairobi.

The revision of the travel restrictions points to good diplomatic relations between Kenya and China since President William Ruto’s ascent to power.

Besides China, other countries also have relaxed travel restrictions imposed on Kenyans during the pandemic.

The US was the first country to relax some strict travel restrictions, including lifting the suspension targeting Kenyan travellers.

Lifting the travel restrictions contributed to the recovery of the tourism sector and stopped job hemorrhages which had forced some big hotels to shut down. It also contributed to economic recovery in the country.

Source: Kenyans.co.ke

The 2022 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) report shows African countries making progress in their freedom of travel policies, most of which had been severely curtailed by the Covid-19 crisis.

The annual publication, prepared by the African Development Bank Group in collaboration with the African Union Commission, is now in its 7th edition and was launched on Sunday on the sidelines of the 2022 African Economic Conference in Mauritius.

The report tracks visa policies adopted by African governments on three main criteria: whether entry to citizens from other African countries is visa-free, if a visa on arrival can be obtained, and whether travellers are required to obtain visas ahead of traveling to other African countries.

This year’s report underlines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years (2020 and 2021) during which most countries restricted movement, both domestically and for international travel. Restrictions on international travel ranged from closing entire borders to quarantines, screening measures, and bans on visitors from countries deemed “high risk.”

Domestic restrictions included a gamut of measures such as prohibitions on travelling between provinces, bans on non-essential movement, curfews, and rules that limited gatherings.

The 2022 report reflects on renewed signs of progress: 10 countries have improved their visa openness score over the past year, and visa openness on the continent now exceeds that recorded during the year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and is in line with the peak score achieved in 2020.

Progressive visa policies that increase visa-free entry or to visa on arrival policies, will ensure that this positive trend continues. The use of technology and a greater adoption of e-Visa systems will help fast-track the ease at which travellers can cross borders.

Highlights of the 2022 Africa Visa Openness Index

African travel has become more open to African citizens in 2022, with fewer restrictions overall. There is now an even split between travel that is visa free, and travel where a visa may be obtained on arrival at the destination country.

• Three countries—Benin, The Gambia and the Seychelles—offer visa-free entry to Africans of all other countries. In 2016 and 2017, only one country did so.
• 24 African countries offer an eVisa—5 more than five years ago.
• 36 countries have improved or maintained their Visa Openness Index score since 2016.
• 50 countries have maintained or improved their Visa Openness Index score relative to 2021, usually after removing some of the visa policy restrictions implemented during the pandemic.
• 48 countries out of 54—the vast majority of African countries—now offer visa-free travel to the nationals of at least one other African country.
• 42 countries offer visa-free travel to the nationals of at least 5 other African countries.

Interestingly, lower income countries account for a large share of the countries that make up the top-20 ranked countries in 2022 with liberal visa policies: 45% of countries in the top-20 on the index are classified as low-income countries, while a further 45% of countries are classified as lower middle-income.

EVisas allow prospective travelers to apply for a visa from the comfort of their home or workplace ahead of travel, streamline the application process reduce time at borders, provide a greater measure of certainty ahead of travel, reduce the need to submit a passport for processing to consular offices, and make travel safer and more secure.

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa said: “This edition links free movement to the development of regional value chains, investments, trade in services and the AfCFTA. There is greater recognition that human mobility is key to Africa’s integration efforts.”

African Development Bank Group Acting Vice President in charge of Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, remarked: “The Africa Visa Openness Index has been tracking visa openness as a measure of the freedom of movement since 2016. This year’s edition—the seventh—shows many African countries having greatly simplified their visa regime over the past year.”

The 2022 edition of the Report showcases three countries that have made the most progress in their visa openness, namely Burundi, Djibouti and Ethiopia. Ethiopia in particular has risen several places on the index to regain her position in the continent’s top 20 performers after removing the temporary measures instituted in 2021.

In an innovation, the report provides an analysis of free movement of persons at regional economic community level in Africa. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the East African Community are the most open communities, with ECOWAS hosting eight of the top ten countries.

Commenting on the report, African Development Bank Group Acting Director in charge of the Regional Integration Coordination Office Jean-Guy Afrika, said: “The Africa Visa Openness Index has tracked the evolution of visa regimes on the African continent from before the pandemic to today. As the 2022 report shows, African countries are dismantling many of the measures imposed during the pandemic. Indeed, on the whole, the continent has returned to a level of visa openness last seen just before the pandemic began.”

Some key statistics:

• For 27% of intra-Africa* travel, African citizens do not need a visa, up from 25% in 2021.
• For 27% of intra-Africa* travel, African citizens can obtain a visa on arrival, up from 24% in 2021.
• For 47% of intra-Africa* travel, African citizens are still required to obtain a visa before travelling, an improvement of the 51% in 2021.

*Intra-Africa travel refers to travel by African citizens between African countries.

Source: AfDB

Authorities in Kenya and Eritrea have reached an agreement to facilitate the travel process by lifting the visa requirements for citizens of each other’s countries.

According to both countries’ authorities, the new decision would further tighten the bilateral relations, and also facilitate the travel process.

The decision was reached at a meeting held between the President of Kenya, William Ruto as well as his counterpart from Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki. The leaders also agreed to tighten cooperation in the African Union, “in the spirit of Pan-Africanism”. 

“We will keep working together to promote regional trade and investment,” President Ruto said.

In addition, they also agreed to cooperate and consult on regional integration and also to safeguard regional peace, as well as the development and security in the Horn of Africa.

The presidents of both countries also discussed the importance of promoting regional trade as well as an investment through developing regional, sea, land and air transport.

At present, all Kenyan citizens are required to have a visa when planning to travel to Eritrea and vice versa, however, the recent changes will contribute to further easing the travel process.

Authorities in Kenya in November announced that they had reached a visa -free agreement with South Africa whose decision will become effective starting from January next year.

Through an agreement reached between both countries’ presidents, it was emphasized that citizens of both countries would be eligible to enter each other’s countries.

Source: EABW News