No visa needed from 2024 to visit this African nation, known for its wildlife safaris

Visitors to Kenya from across the world will no longer require a visa from January, President William Ruto said on December 12. Ruto said his government had developed a digital platform to ensure all visitors would receive an electronic travel authorisation in advance, instead of applying for a visa. "It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya," he said in a speech in capital Nairobi at an event held to mark 60 years of independence from Britain.

Ruto has long advocated for visa-free travel within the African continent. At a conference in the Republic of Congo in October he said people from African countries would not require a visa to visit Kenya by the end of 2023. The tourism industry plays a vital role in Kenya's economy, offering beach holidays along its Indian Ocean coastline and wildlife safaris inland. "Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home!" he said.

Recently, South Africa's Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, pushed for visa-free travel for Indian and Chinese travellers. She said, "Visas are a problem. I see my role as dealing with regulations, the visa issues, regulations around tour operating licenses and then, air access, getting more flights to come to South Africa." The government has identified development of the tourism industry as key to reducing a 33% unemployment rate but has long faced criticism that it makes it too difficult to enter the country.