Use of the EAC single tourist visa in Burundi still pending

While Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya have already used the single tourist visa inside their countries, Burundi is still slow to join its EAC partners.–By Diane Uwimana

Bonaventure Ndikumana: “There is a joint order to offer visas to tourists and investors to facilitate access to markets, but the Commission is analysing whether we should take the local one or use the EAC single tourist visa” ©Iwacu

“It is a great loss for Burundi touristic agencies for not joining others in the use of the EAC single tourist visa,” regrets Avry Mbonicuye, a Manager of one of the touristic agencies, Intore Tours. He indicates that tourists will only visit those three countries by using one single tourist visa instead of using much money to discover Burundi and Tanzania which haven’t yet joined their partners.
“The cost of this single tourist visa in these countries is estimated at 50$ while the Burundi tourist visa costs 90$. How will they buy the expensive one used only in one country instead of using one which is cheaper to visit three countries?,” wonders Mbonicuye.
Despite the political and security situation that occurs in the country, Mbonicuye notes that Burundi has become a new attractive country for worldwide tourists. According to him, the Commission in charge of implementing the Single tourist visa must work hard and quickly to let Burundi join other countries.

“The joint order, one of the fetters”

Bonaventure Ndikumana, Tourism Advisor in the Ministry in Charge of EAC Affairs, indicates that the process for adhering is still going on. “There is a joint order to offer visas to tourists and investors to facilitate access to markets, but the Commission is analysing whether we should take the local one or use the EAC single tourist visa,” states Ndikumana.
He adds that the Commission has found out some challenges that have pushed it to adopt the use of the single tourist visa.
However, he continues, the 5th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on tourism and wildlife management has convened that it is allowed to partner states which are ready to proceed bilaterally under the principle of variable geometry.

It is stipulated in the treaty establishment of the EAC, in the article 7(e), that the principle of variable geometry allows progress in cooperation among groups within the community for wider integration schemes in various fields and at different speeds.
Ndikumana mentions that the 5th Meeting of the Sectoral Council urged partner states to fast –track the process of introducing an EAC Tourist Visa by 2014 as an opportunity for the region to boost the tourism sector as well as enhancing the socio-economic development of the region. The next 6th Meeting of the Sectoral Council which will be held this month will analyse this issue and the measures to adopt will be known.
Iwacu has tried to look for any Official in the Burundi Migration office for more information about the joint order but in vain.