The Kenyan government has initiated a review of its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system following concerns raised by stakeholders and a decline in the country’s ranking in the Africa Visa Openness Index.
Kenya’s ranking on the Africa Visa Openness Index, by the African Development Bank, fell 17 places this year to rank 46th out of 54 countries.
This decision, approved by the Cabinet during a meeting chaired by President William Ruto on December 17th at State House, Nairobi, aims to enhance Kenya’s tourism competitiveness and accommodate a growing influx of visitors.
The Cabinet statement emphasizes the importance of this review in achieving the government’s ambitious goal of attracting 5 million tourists by 2027.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced that the review process will commence in January 2025, following the Cabinet recess.
A multi-sectoral engagement is scheduled for January 7, 2025, to discuss stakeholder concerns and evaluate findings from the Africa Visa Openness Index. Miano reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining open communication with stakeholders throughout the review process.
This move comes in response to criticism from CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo, who argued that the current ETA system, with its $30 processing fee, undermines the benefits of Kenya’s visa-free entry policy for many travellers.
Thank you @LarryMadowo for your feedback.
We have scheduled a multi sectoral engagement on 7th January 2025 to review and discuss the ETA in detail based on the concerns raised and the results of the Africa Visa Openness Index. I will keep all stakeholders updated until we… https://t.co/wdSph42wgk— CS Rebecca Miano, EGH (@rebecca_miano) December 18, 2024
Kenya Tourism Earnings Jump 32% in 2023, Eyes Record Year Ahead
