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Rwanda: Visas on arrival for all

Source: Tourism Update, 20/11/2017


Rwanda is among the countries that have taken a leading role in
implementing the AU`s recommendations.
From January 1, 2018, all travellers to Rwanda, regardless of
nationality, will get a 30-day visa on arrival without prior application.
Rwandans with dual nationality are now allowed to use National IDs on
entry.
Further to this, on a reciprocal basis, with immediate effect, the
country will grant 90-day visas, free of charge, to Benin, Central
African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal,
Seychelles and Sao Tomé and Principe. This is in addition to the
Democratic Republic of Congo, East Africa Member Community Partner
States, Mauritius, Philippines and Singapore.
Rwanda is also introducing a visa waiver for some diplomatic and
service passport holders, which will be effective immediately. The
countries are: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, India, Israel,
Morocco and Turkey. A 90-day visa on arrival will also be available
for travellers from the COMESA (The Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa) region, subject to payment of visa fees.
This development comes at a time when the African Union is encouraging
member states to liberalise free movement of citizens across the
continent. Rwanda is among the countries that have taken a leading
role in implementing the AU`s recommendations.
AllAfrica.com reports that previous visa adjustments saw a significant
rise in the number of visitors to the country. For instance, when
Rwanda instituted visa on arrival for all African nationals, the
number of African travellers increased from 31 054 in 2013 to 77 377
in 2016.
According to RwandAir Deputy Chief Executive for Corporate Affairs,
Yvonne Makolo, the new visa regulation is also set to increase traffic
on Rwanda’s national carrier.
Global and local international conference organisers are also upbeat
about the new policy. Conference organisers who spoke to The New Times
said, among the determining factors that influenced conference
hosting, a country’s accessibility was a top priority. This is because
major international forums often have foreign delegations of 500
people and above and, as a result, the visa process can be a deal breaker.
Matthew Weihs, MD of Bench Events, a global firm that has brought the
Africa Hotel Investment summit to Rwanda for two consecutive years,
told The New Times: “I’ve no doubt that the destination will become
increasingly attractive to a growing number of event organisers.”
David Frost, CEO of Satsa, said: “This will be a massive boost for
Rwanda’s economy as it will have a knock-on effect that results in an
increase in investment.” He added that South Africa should follow
suit. “It is important for us to remove barriers that may deter
travellers from choosing South Africa as a destination. We have an
unrealistic mind-set about security; it is more than possible to
maintain security while offering nations visas on arrival; a fact that
Rwanda is about to prove.”
The 2017 African Visa openness index report by the African Development
Bank noted that the idea of easing visa regulations often sparked
fears of an increase in terrorism and insecurity-related challenges as
well as a potential influx of immigrants. Yves Butera, the Head of
Communications and Customer Relations at the Directorate General of
Immigration and Emigration, said the fears were unfounded and claimed
that, instead, increasing accessibility could ensure visitors did not
have to resort to illegal means to enter the country.


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