Kenya Tourism
Federation, the umbrella body of private sector tourism associations has
embarked on a massive sensitization and awareness campaign on the use of
National Identification (NID) and the Single Tourism Visa (STV) for travel
across the East Africa Community member countries.
This initiative
follows a research report that was released in June that indicated limited and
poor information availability on STV for travelers and immigration officials.
The survey
which was commissioned by KTF in partnership with Trademark East Africa
revealed that Information availability on the Single Tourist Visa and use of
National showed a response range of
between very poor to just average with only 25 per cent of travellers and less
than 15 per cent of immigration officials rating the current information as
good.
KTF Ag. CEO
Mrs. Susan Ongalo says it is with this in mind that KTF has embarked on an
awareness campaign among immigration officers with a view of ensuring better
information access.
Speaking in
Kisumu during the inaugural
sensitization forum, Ms Ongalo noted that
while majority of
immigration officials were
aware of the
existence of STV
and countries involved, 67
per cent were
not familiar with
the cost of STV with 25
per cent showing lack
of familiarity with
regards to the
application process.
“ It’s also of concern to us that the current
STV processing procedure has been rated as very poor by travellers and therefore
the need to review and advise on necessary improvement,” said MsOngalo.
Regarding the
use of National
Identity Cards to
cross borders, the
report indicated there is low
level awareness with a
significant proportion of 17 per cent or 8 out
of 48 of
immigration officials not
being aware on
the use of
National Identity cards.
Trademark East
Africa Kenya Country Director - Dr. Chris Kiptoo said lack
of awareness, poor
information availability and
low institutional capacity have
been identified as key challenges towards implementation of STV and NID.
Dr. Kiptoo
noted that the survey recommended sensitization and training to enhance
awareness amongst travel and tourism, trade and hospitality providers in major
urban areas including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, with emphasis to the border
points.
“Sensitization
on information availability for STV and use of NID will be important in
improving information access to travellers, airline providers, tour operators,
immigration officers, among others,” said DrKiptoo.
The Single East
Africa Tourist Visa and use of national IDs for travel was officially launched
by Heads of State of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in Kampala, on the 20th
February, 2014; completing one of the major integration projects jointly
undertaken by the three
countries.
The
initiative is expected to ensure
the three countries have a significant share of the registered 50 million
tourists who visit
the continent annually;
as well as
stir cross border economic and tourism growth.
Expected participating forum stakeholders include members from
Lake Victoria Tourism Association, Rural Tourism Network, Western Tourism
Circuit Association ,Tourism County Executives from Kisumu, Vihiga, Migori,
Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Homabay, Migori, Kisii and Nyamira Counties.
Immigration officers in Kisumu as well as those from the Buisia
and Malaba border posts to ensure that both parties understand the advantages
and opportunities that the use of the Single Tourist Visa and the Use of ID’s
can impact the tourism industry in the region
NOTE TO THE
EDITOR
KTF
commissioned Strathmore University’s Center for Tourism and Hospitality to
conduct the baseline survey on the level of awareness of the Single Tourist
Visa and use of National Identification cards for cross border travel for
citizens of the three partner states – Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
The survey was
released in June.
Tourism is one of the projects under the Northern
Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) which reports to the Presidential Summit
which is held every two months to give directives of the proposals by the
Technical Committee. Within the Technical Committee Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya
work under a Joint Tourism Marketing Committee (JTMC); where the partner states
in partnership with the East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP) have committed to
undertake data analysis through Tourism Desks at entry border points; among
other activities i.e. Continuous quarterly sharing of data on interstate passes
and STV and Use of National IDs uptake between Tourism and Immigration
Via Agencies
No comments:
Post a Comment