Jun 18, 2024 |
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe recently announced their commitment to expanding the use of a special common visa known as Univisa.
Univisa allows entry into multiple countries and is currently used in Zambia and Zimbabwe, facilitating day trips to Botswana via the Kazungula border post.
These states form part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA KAZA), which is located in the basins of the Kavango and Zambezi rivers, where Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge.
The jewels of this spectacular set of protected areas are the 15,000 km2 Okavango Delta, an explosion of green and blue in a parched landscape - the largest inland delta in the world, and the impressive Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. In Angola, it is part of the following conservation areas: Luengué National Park, Luiana National Park, Longa-Mavinga National Park and Mucusso National Park.
The leaders of these countries intend to extend Univisa to other states in the conservation area and to the Southern African economic bloc. This move aims to facilitate the movement of tourists and increase regional arrivals.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Botswana's Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane confirmed their countries' support for the adoption of this transnational visa.
These five southern African countries are not alone in their demand for regional visa projects. Earlier this year, Thailand launched a Schengen-style single visa project, which would allow foreign visitors to enter five other Southeast Asian countries: Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam.
This move is part of a growing trend in the region, with the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) also approving a similar project for a tourist visa that would be valid in its six member states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman). It is expected to be launched by 2025.
This trend is set to revolutionise tourism in these regions, offering a new level of convenience and accessibility for international tourists but also at regional and national level.
Photos: Jambo-africa.com e PPF
