The plan to have a single East Africa Community (EAC) tourist visa has been delayed because of a lack of sophisticated ICT equipments.
Shem Bagaine, chairperson of the EAC council of ministers, has informed the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Kigali that poorly developed ICT infrastructure at national level, which should facilitate connectivity of the entry or exit points, may delay the introduction of the single tourist visa in the five member states.
Partner states Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi will have to ensure their visa issuing regimes are woking cooperatively and in sync for the system to work, but this has yet to be achieved.
Advanced ICT equipment will be needed to allow the exchange of security and detect fake passports.
The EAC single tourist visa will be discussed at the next meeting of the Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management in June.
