This archive report was first published on 10 May 2021.
Kenya and Tanzania are strengthening their tourism ties, with players in the industry welcoming the recent state visit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Kenya.
According to stakeholders, the visit has brought new hope of closer cooperation between the two states, which have had a frosty relationship in the past.
Kenya has been cooperating with Uganda and Rwanda on tourism, but Tanzania has been a notable exception. However, the recent visit has sparked renewed optimism about the potential for increased trade and cooperation between the two nations.
Chief Executive Officer of One World Adventures Limited Solomon Wao said that the free flow of tourists between Kenya and Tanzania would be a major boost to the tourism industry. 'We have for a long time lost out due to stringent border control measures that have denied tour companies the opportunity to engage in cross-border trade,' Wao said.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Executive officer, Dr Sam Ikwaye, also welcomed the move, saying that a joint plan to ease movement within the tourism corridors in the two nations was long overdue. 'Tanzania and Kenya have shared attractions, and our unmatched service culture can be explored as a strength,' Ikwaye said.
Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) chairman Mohamed Hersi also expressed his support for the move, saying that it would be a dream come true if Tanzania adopted the single Visa for East Africa.
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