Within the EAC, trade has known certain improvements including the removal of certain tariff and nontariff barriers. Public transportation has also benefited from regional integration although challenges still remain.
<doc5237|left>All of EAC travel agencies’ managers operating in Burundi say they have taken advantage of the benefits of the common market. They have witnessed the free movement of persons as is stated in the second stage of regional integration. "With EAC integration, we have seen that the number of clients has significantly increased ", says Alexis Hatungimana, GAGAA agent at his company’s transportation terminal; they travel to Kampala, Uganda, through Kigali, Rwanda. He indicates that his Agency has so far registered an increasing number of passengers: «There are many Ugandans, Kenyans, Tanzanians, who come to Burundi." We observe almost a 20 % client increase. We can even fill two buses, twice or three times a week, as it used be the case past years. " He also explains that the removal of entry visa worth 80 US $ per person entering in one of the EAC countries is another valued opportunity/asset for travel agencies.
Hillary Arineitwe, responsible for JAGUAR transportation company services thinks likewise. He indicates that business also has improved back home. Indeed she points out that the number of passengers increased by 40%, according to her. "With regional integration, the inhabitants of the EAC region are enjoying good relationships"; and he explains that this situation enables his business to grow.
“There are challenges”
Even if travel agencies’ officials say they have greatly benefitted from the common market, they also do not hesitate to denounce certain barriers that impede their activity. They mention, among other issues, the fees they pay at the borders when, for example, the bus leaves Kampala to Bujumbura. "We pay 45 dollars for our trip to Bujumbura, whereas before regional integration we would spend 18.000 Frwa only at Gatuna (Rwanda-Uganda border)", says Mr. Hatungimana.
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Some names of EAC travel agencies : Jaguar, Gagaa, Belvedère, Horizon, Taqua, Yahoo, Volcano, etc.
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In addition to these costs, he accuses the customs officers of unnecessary delays at the border: "we lose much time when customs officers are searching the bus." For example, at Gatuna, the search may take about 3 hours while before the operation took us 30 minutes maximum. "And in business, he adds, speed is very important.
Clients are less satisfied
The only advantage recognized by clients of these travel agencies is related to competition. "Today, we are operating in a large market that sees competition between many agencies." And prices must not rise at any time", P.K, a trader says. He often takes this kind of bus when he goes to buy goods in Kampala.
Although passengers are satisfied with the competition that exists on the market, they still deplore the quality of the services provided inside the buses. "It’s very hard to travel for more than 15 hours and all the way seated. Bus seats are not comfortable. In case you feel tired and you want to take a nap, you cannot even bend your seat to rest a little bit", he says. He goes on to that customers are not respected when they request the bus to stop so that they get out relieving themselves. This merchant urges travel agencies’ managers to create suitable traveling conditions: "they must at least change their seats. If possible, they should buy buses which have toilets inside; this would help avoid time losses. »
Agencies’ managers however indicate they cannot satisfy their client’s wish as the benefits they reap cannot enable them to proceed to such costly adjustments." "And in addition, we cannot increase the travel fare, as we fear that our clients are not able to pay easily," one the travel company official says.
Concerning fees paid by the bus owners, the spokesman of the OBR (Burundi Revenue Authority) thinks that there is no exaggeration: «50 US dollars have been decided by the EAC Protocol. »
And for the problem of delays at borders mentioned by travelers, Jimmy Hatungimana, Director of the PAFE (Air and Borders Police Unit) reassures: "things will move faster with the One Stop Border Post system, which is under preparation." He explains that with this new system, there is a single stop at the border whereas buses currently stop twice.
