Ethiopian vacationers at the moment are relieved from the duty to pay the standard $30 Digital Journey Authorization (eTA) charge when touring to Kenya.

By a publish on his X account, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Bacha Debele Buta, expressed his honest gratitude and appreciation to the Authorities of Kenya for its fast response and beneficiant determination to waive the digital cost requirement for Ethiopian residents in reference to the eTA, VisaGuide.World stories.

We kindly inform our residents that they’ll enter Kenya with none requirement for a visa and its associated cost, however the requirement to fill out the eTA kind on-line earlier than arrival stays necessary.

The announcement got here amid considerations in regards to the implications of Kenya’s new visa laws on the long-standing visa-free settlement between Kenya and Ethiopia, permitting residents of each nations to journey with no need a visa.

President Ruto unveiled Kenya’s transition to a visa-free settlement on December 12, 2023, with the introduction of eTA necessities for all foreigners, efficient January 1, 2024. Talking throughout a convention held within the Republic of Congo earlier in October 2023, President Ruto emphasised that residents of African nations can journey to Kenya with out visas by the tip of 2023.

Furthermore, the eTA system facilitates superior identification and verification processes. The primary inflow of international arrivals underneath the brand new visa regime occurred on January 5 on the Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport.

On this regard, Chief Immigration Secretary Julius Bitok revealed that the Immigration Division had acquired 5,000 eTA purposes at the moment.

Throughout the identical month, the Kenya Affiliation of Journey Brokers revealed a outstanding revival within the nation’s journey sector, citing a staggering 90 % enhance in arrivals. Buoyed by such vital progress, Kenya predicted the identical tempo for this 12 months as effectively, aiming to achieve and surpass pre-pandemic tourism ranges.

At a gathering, Alfred Mutua, Cupboard Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, famous their dedication to implementing reforms aimed toward strengthening Kenya’s Kenya’s place as one of many high decisions for vacationers worldwide.

As of February 2024, the Kenyan passport is ranked 138th globally in response to the VisaGuide Passport Index. This rating permits Kenyan residents to take pleasure in visa-free journey privileges to 44 nations worldwide. Nonetheless, for entry into the remaining nations, holders of Kenyan passports should bear the visa utility course of beforehand.