
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:30 AM ET, Wed December 13, 2023
The President of Kenya announced that international visitors
arriving in the African country will no longer need a visa to enter, starting
in January.
According to Reuters.com, Kenyan President William Ruto said
Tuesday the government developed a “digital platform to ensure all visitors
would receive an electronic
travel authorization in advance, instead of needing to apply for a visa.”
President Ruto has been a strong advocate for visa-free
travel across Africa and said in October that Kenya would welcome travelers
from across the continent without the need for a vise by the end of the year.
“It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any
corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya,”
President Ruto said.
“Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home,” Ruto
continued.
The tourism industry is a major driver of income for Kenya’s
gross domestic product, with the economy dependent on travelers who visit the
country’s beaches along the Indian Ocean coastline and the wildlife safaris
farther inland.
Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines announced an expanded
partnership with Kenya Airways that includes the latter’s nonstop
Nairobi-to-New York service. The deal also offers customers more travel options
within the United States and Africa, with 31 additional single-connect
destinations in Africa and another 57 across the U.S. and Canada.
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