To boost tourism, five Southern African countries have agreed to expand a regional visa scheme that facilitates cross-border travel.
SOUTHERN AFRICAN MULTI-COUNTRY VISA
The new multi-country visa, similar to Europe’s Schengen Visa, allows entry to various countries in Southern Africa.
This will ease cross-border trips for travellers visiting various countries in the region.
Thus the new uni-visa aims to boost tourism by simplifying travel across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
KAZA UNIVISA
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – member states of the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, will introduce the expanded univisa.
The new regional visa will allow entry to five countries. Initially, the visa granted entry to only two countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The expansion, to include Angola, Botswana and Namibia aims to increase tourist numbers and streamline travel within the region.
DRIVING TOURISM AND GROWTH
This unified visa is expected to enable seamless cross-border travel, attract more visitors and enhance the region’s appeal as a top travel destination.
Moreover, this initiative is expected to increase economic growth and strengthen regional cooperation in tourism.
EXTENSION OF KAZA VISA
During a recent summit in Livingstone, Zambia, KAZA leaders agreed to extend the univisa’s coverage to additional countries within both the conservation area and the larger Southern African economic community.
Botswana’s Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane, confirmed his country’s commitment to fully adopt the Southern African multi-country visa.
LIFTING BAN ON IVORY TRADE
Furthermore the KAZA member states are pushing for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to lift its ban on elephant and ivory trading.
To regulate and restrict wildlife trade to prevent overexploitation, imposed a ban on the commercial trade of African elephant ivory in 1989 due to significant declines in elephant populations.
The KAZA countries state that lifting these restrictions would allow them to sell ivory stocks, valued at approximately $1 billion (R19 billion). The proceeds would be dedicated to conservation efforts.
SCHENGEN VISA
The KAZA univisa is similar to Europe’s Schengen Visa, which provides entry to many states in Europe.
The Schengen Area consists of 29 European countries that have abolished their internal borders to allow free and unrestricted movement of people.
Thus, it covers a vast area of 4,718,084 km2 and is home to over 448 million citizens.
Most European Union (EU) countries are within the Schengen Area, except Ireland and Cyprus. Two EU states, Romania and Bulgaria, joined the Schengen Area in March this year.
Additionally, several non-EU countries such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein are members despite their non-EU status.