{Tanzania will soon join Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in implementing the single entry tourist visa as part of efforts to boost tourism in the region.}<\/p>\n
Tanzanian Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro Nyalandu attributed his country’s delay in agreeing to the visa pact to issues related to lack of identity cards by Tanzanian citizens.<\/p>\n
He denied accusations that Tanzania was a stumbling block to the single entry tourist visa launched last year.<\/p>\n
“Tanzania was unable to implement the single tourist visa since our citizens didn’t have IDs, whereas Kenyans have for a long time been having the IDs,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We are almost concluding the issuance of IDs to all Tanzanians and we will soon join other East African member states in implementing the single tourist visa initiative,” he added.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Mr Nyalandu said Tanzania had joined forces with Kenya on the war against poaching within the Serengeti-Mara eco-system to contain the killing of elephants by poachers.<\/p>\n
He noted that the joint anti-poaching efforts between the two countries had helped protect elephants population in the Serengeti national park in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya.<\/p>\n
“We are happy to report that the number of elephants within the Serengeti-Mara eco-system has increased from 3,000 in 2006 to 7,000 this year due to anti-poaching efforts,” he said.<\/p>\n
ELIMINATE POACHING<\/p>\n
He revealed that poaching of elephants in Tanzania had dropped by 75 per cent, adding that plans were underway to eliminate the menace.<\/p>\n
Mr Nyalandu said Tanzania will from Friday to Sunday host an Eastern Africa summit to discuss strategies to contain ivory trade in the region.<\/p>\n
The countries expected at the summit include Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.<\/p>\n
“The aim of the summit is for the member states to sign a memorandum of understanding on the sharing of intelligence and joint patrols to stem elephant poaching across the region,” he explained.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda had successfully implemented the single tourist visa.<\/p>\n
She said since it was launched last year, international holidaymakers have been able to visit the three countries after paying the $120 visa fee.<\/p>\n
International tourists apply for the single tourist visa online in all international airports in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.<\/p>\n
“We are now celebrating one-year anniversary since our three countries agreed to roll out the single tourist visa initiative,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We are appealing to our neighbouring Tanzania to join us so that we can achieve the resolution of marketing East Africa as a single destination in effort to boost our tourism sector,” she added.<\/p>\n
Source: {{Daily Nation}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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