I suppose this Visa scenario would help a little but if the region really wanted to attract tourists they would issue visas for ‘bona fide’ tourists absolutely free! At the moment the charge to enter Zambia is US$50 pp single entry US$80 pp double entry. Multiple entry can only be obtained in advance from outside Zambia. At one time we had visa fee exemption for tourists who had advance bookings and it was great, I wish they would reinstate the system and then have it cover the countries mentioned below! Some hopes!

This piece is from Brian Hatyoka.

All five member countries in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) are expected to have uniform visas by December, this year, Zambia Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo has said. KAZA-TFCA is potentially the world’s largest conservation area, spanning five southern African countries namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, centred around the Caprivi-Chobe-Victoria Falls areas.

Its goal is to sustainably manage the Kavango-Zambezi ecosystem, its heritage and cultural resources based on best conservation and tourism models for the socio-economic well being of the communities and other stakeholders in and around the eco-region through harmonization of policies, strategies and practices.

Ms Masebo said the common visa would be a milestone as it would allow for the free movement of people and goods within the five-member countries and ultimately promote tourism in the region. She was speaking at a press briefing at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone on arrival from Menongue in Angola where she and other delegates attended a meeting for KAZA Ministers of Tourism, Wildlife and Natural Resources.

“One of the points to note from the just-ended Angola meeting is that by December 31, 2013, it is hoped that we shall have the common KAZA-TFCA visa between five member countries. This will allow for free movement of people and goods and it will be a milestone for tourism promotion,” Ms Masebo said. She continued “We have come from a very successful KAZA-TFCA Ministers meeting in Angola. During the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in Livingstone, this month, delegates would be taken to KAZA-TFCA projects for Zambia where a lot of things have been done in the area of wildlife and on tourism in general.”