Tanzania pulls out of East Africa Common Visa Plan

[Kamundi]

Tanzania did not pull out of the plan, simply because it was never party to the scheme in the first instance. The title of article in a Kenyan newspaper is deliberately misleading for the sake of cheap sensationalism, and of course profits.

October 12, 2016
Nairobi , Kenya

Tanzania pulls out of East Africa common visa plan

Tanzania has dealt Kenya another blow by distancing itself from the common visa launched between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

The common visa is meant to, among other things, enable the members states to jointly market their tourism as a single product.

Tanzania also wants nothing to do with the joint marketing strategies pushed by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and will not participate in the East African tourism platform events being pushed for by the neighbours.

The joint visa has been issued to 4,000 tourists who will be visiting the three countries, now dubbed ‘the coalition of the willing’.

In a media briefing Wednesday, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said Tanzania was wary of competition from Kenya.

“Tourists who will be moving between the three countries that form the coalition will now be using a common visa that will be charged at $100 (Sh10,122) instead of $150 (Sh15,183) that each country charged before,” Mr Balala said.

“The coalition of the willing has also agreed to have a common East Africa stand at the world Travel Market to be held in London on November 7. The stand has been dubbed ‘borderless East Africa’, but Tanzania will not be part of it,” he added.

Balala said the problem with the East African region is that countries live with “a fear of the unknown”. He called on the country’s neighbours to look at each other not as competitors, but as friends complementing each other. “Our competitors are the Caribbean countries and the Far East. We shouldn’t compete among ourselves,” Balala said. “I want to encourage Tanzania to join us. Our doors are open,” he added.

At the same time, the CS gave the numbers of tourist arrivals from the region, which indicated Tanzania’s numbers had shrunk compared to Uganda.

“From Uganda, we had 50,000 arrivals. From Tanzania we had 30,000, while we had 25,000 from Ethiopia. We are yet to get numbers from Rwanda and Burundi,” Balala said.
The latest development comes just months after Tanzania declined to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between EAC and European Union (EU).
Source: Tanzania pulls out of East Africa common visa plan

 

[Kamundi]

Tanzania did not pull out of the plan, simply because it was never party to the scheme in the first instance. The title of article in a Kenyan newspaper is deliberately misleading for the sake of cheap sensationalism, and of course profits.

October 12, 2016
Nairobi , Kenya

Tanzania pulls out of East Africa common visa plan

Tanzania has dealt Kenya another blow by distancing itself from the common visa launched between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

The common visa is meant to, among other things, enable the members states to jointly market their tourism as a single product.

Tanzania also wants nothing to do with the joint marketing strategies pushed by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and will not participate in the East African tourism platform events being pushed for by the neighbours.

The joint visa has been issued to 4,000 tourists who will be visiting the three countries, now dubbed ‘the coalition of the willing’.

In a media briefing Wednesday, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said Tanzania was wary of competition from Kenya.

“Tourists who will be moving between the three countries that form the coalition will now be using a common visa that will be charged at $100 (Sh10,122) instead of $150 (Sh15,183) that each country charged before,” Mr Balala said.

“The coalition of the willing has also agreed to have a common East Africa stand at the world Travel Market to be held in London on November 7. The stand has been dubbed ‘borderless East Africa’, but Tanzania will not be part of it,” he added.

Balala said the problem with the East African region is that countries live with “a fear of the unknown”. He called on the country’s neighbours to look at each other not as competitors, but as friends complementing each other. “Our competitors are the Caribbean countries and the Far East. We shouldn’t compete among ourselves,” Balala said. “I want to encourage Tanzania to join us. Our doors are open,” he added.

At the same time, the CS gave the numbers of tourist arrivals from the region, which indicated Tanzania’s numbers had shrunk compared to Uganda.

“From Uganda, we had 50,000 arrivals. From Tanzania we had 30,000, while we had 25,000 from Ethiopia. We are yet to get numbers from Rwanda and Burundi,” Balala said.
The latest development comes just months after Tanzania declined to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between EAC and European Union (EU).
Source: Tanzania pulls out of East Africa common visa plan

 

[Kamundi]

Still Tanzania wana have battle with kenya

I think you overestimate your importance. And what makes you think that Tanzania is in anyway competing with Kenya?

 

[Geza Ulole]

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nomasana, sam999, NairobiWalker, hbuyosh, msemakweli, simplemind, Kimweri, Bulldog, MK254, Kafrican, Ngongo, Ab_Titchaz, mtanganyika mpya, JokaKuu, Ngongo, Askari Kanzu, Dhuks, Yule-Msee, waltham, Mzee, mombasite gabriel, Juakali1980, Boda254, mwaswast, MwendaOmo, Iconoclastes, oneflash, Kambalanick, 1 Africa, saadeque, burukenge, nyangau mkenya, Teen-Upperhill Nairobi, kadoda11

 

[Cheche Mtungi]

Nice move though, Especially for security reason. We Can't risk our security for this matter

Kabisa!

 

[Cheche Mtungi]

Nice move though, Especially for security reason. We Can't risk our security for this matter

Wasomali wapite kilaini tu milipuko yao,nani kasema,waendeleeee tu!

 

[mstaafu001]

hatujakataa kuwa mko na vivutio vingi...naukisema watu wanakufa njaa umesahau vile watu wenu walikula viwavi?Aliye wapa hii kasumba ya kuwa kutaka kushirikiana ni kulialia nnani?kaa ukumbuke hatuja taka kushirikiana na tz pekee,hao rwanda na uganda nao pia tunawalilia?rzn first.wasema askari wanauliwa somalia,umesahau police station zenu kuvamiwa uko,na panya road umewasahau.tuchukulieni wezi we dont care since thats your opinin and mind you,opinions are like a$$hole,everyone has his/hers

tutakudeport wewe kuwa makini

 

[mstaafu001]

not to sound biased or anything, but Kenyans are always known for acting smarter than others. They are the kind of people that will always have a hidden motive to anything they do regardless of how harmless it will seem on the outside. Take an instance with the Kenyan women, they will never date a non Kenyan unless they are certain of gaining something out of the relationship, be it accommodation if it's in a foreign country, Citizenship etc. Even in a normal friendship you have to be wary of them cause they mostly are one sided kind of friends who aim at gaining more from the friendship.

Same with this tourism deal, they know they stand to gain more on the attractions from TZ that is why they are spear heading the whole agreement. It's a known fact most of the tourists that come to East Africa other than the national parks which we both have plenty of (TZ and Kenya) they want to see Kilimanjaro and since Kenyans have been exposed to the world for their fraudulent claims that the mountain was in their country, what better way to still have access to the mountain at a standard cost than having a common East African Visa? Had it been that they stood to gain nothing they will have been the first to reject the idea.

All in all they are good people only extremely selfish and think so mighty of themselves.............

umeongea vizuri sana.wakenya wahuni sana

 

[Sokoro waito]

KENYA wametumia huu msemo 'IF YOU CAN'T FIGHT THEM, JOIN THEM' kwa maana kuwa baada ya mda mrefu wa kujitangaza kiutalii kupitia Mlima Kilimanjaro na kuona bado hawaiwezi Tanzania vilivyo hasa baada ya kuona zoezi hilo haliwapi faida kubwa, sasa wameamua kutaka plan B ya kuungana na Tanzania ili waendelee Kuiangamiza Tanzania kiutalii. IT IS A HEAVY IMPOSSIBLE.

 

[Mwanzi1]

Tatizo litakuja pale Tanzania wakijiunga halafu tuka anza kuvuta hela ndefu kuliko Kenya, utaona fitna zina anza na kuvuruga mpango mzima

 

[Muria]

Quickly, if u go to archives u will see i once posted a thread of a former Kenyan minister in Kibaki government doing deceitful marketing in a conference in Nairobi where he stated Mt Kilimanjaro is the leading tourist attraction for Kenya before being issued a protest note by our representative and later retracted his statement.

It might not be what the populace wants to hear but unless you move the mountain, or cover it with a wall, VISUAL tourists will come to see the mountain from the Kenyan side. There is a grassy national park (Tsavo) with wild animals giving quite picturesque photo moments. The climbers will definitely go to Tanzania to climb Kili but the older tourists who cant climb will definitely go to Tsavo to kill two birds with one stone. Considering older tourists are generally wealthier and stay longer, it means Kenya generates quite a lot of cash from an attraction that's outside its borders. That's not deceitful marketing its just the truth.

I think TTB should find a different way of countering the "Kilimanjaro in Kenya story" with a strong and repeated message to tourists by offering alternative chances to view from say Same or Himo. The key is to make the viewing experience of the mountain in Tanzania better for visual tourists and not necessarily compelling Kenyan authorities to retract their statements. As they say, "huu mchezo hauhitaji hasira", counter information with appealing alternatives will do the trick.

 

[MK254]

It might not be what the populace wants to hear but unless you move the mountain, or cover it with a wall, VISUAL tourists will come to see the mountain from the Kenyan side. There is a grassy national park (Tsavo) with wild animals giving quite picturesque photo moments. The climbers will definitely go to Tanzania to climb Kili but the older tourists who cant climb will definitely go to Tsavo to kill two birds with one stone. Considering older tourists are generally wealthier and stay longer, it means Kenya generates quite a lot of cash from an attraction that's outside its borders. That's not deceitful marketing its just the truth.

I think TTB should find a different way of countering the "Kilimanjaro in Kenya story" with a strong and repeated message to tourists by offering alternative chances to view from say Same or Himo. The key is to make the viewing experience of the mountain in Tanzania better for visual tourists and not necessarily compelling Kenyan authorities to retract their statements. As they say, "huu mchezo hauhitaji hasira", counter information with appealing alternatives will do the trick.

Dah!! Wewe ni Mtanzania wa wapi, you seem to be well balanced and intelligent, people like you should be in the corridors of power, formulating policies. I would love to share a drink with you while discussing various complexities and dynamics in EAC, SADC and Africa.

 

[Geza Ulole]

It might not be what the populace wants to hear but unless you move the mountain, or cover it with a wall, VISUAL tourists will come to see the mountain from the Kenyan side. There is a grassy national park (Tsavo) with wild animals giving quite picturesque photo moments. The climbers will definitely go to Tanzania to climb Kili but the older tourists who cant climb will definitely go to Tsavo to kill two birds with one stone. Considering older tourists are generally wealthier and stay longer, it means Kenya generates quite a lot of cash from an attraction that's outside its borders. That's not deceitful marketing its just the truth.

I think TTB should find a different way of countering the "Kilimanjaro in Kenya story" with a strong and repeated message to tourists by offering alternative chances to view from say Same or Himo. The key is to make the viewing experience of the mountain in Tanzania better for visual tourists and not necessarily compelling Kenyan authorities to retract their statements. As they say, "huu mchezo hauhitaji hasira", counter information with appealing alternatives will do the trick.

Being leading tourist attraction should be supported with figures! Those sight seeing tourists that come to Amboseli r nowhere near to those that go to Masai mara. And moreover that view is also present in Tanzania four picturesquares! You can see the Mt from Arusha National or Momella Park! You can see the Mt from Ngurdoto crater!" You can see the Mt from Mkomazi! You can see the Mt from Moshi Town! You can see the Mt from lake Chala! You can see the Mt from Tarakea! Get urself conversant with what we are arguing here! A reason the Minister had to withdraw that statement! If you ask any Kenyan how many peaks are in Mt Kilimanjaro many will think one or two! A reason no Kenyan has that right of the best view!

Mt Kilimanjaro from Momella Park (all three peaks visible)

Mt Kilimanjaro from Moshi

From Tarakea mawenzi peak

 

[Depay]

Unajua Kenyans wanapenda kukompete na Tz. Pia wanajionaga smart sana ss CoW na hili la viza lengo lao lilikuwa kutuingiza king kisha watubeze naamin huko walipo wanatathmin na huyo Balala ajiangalie atakosa kazi next term.

Kwanza ni wakabila na wabaguzi, wanatubagua sana kuna mdada Mtz ni mhasibu ktk kampuni ya chai huko Kenya yaani wakikuyu kilasiku ofisini wanadiskasi kuwa Kenya yote hakuna mhasibu mpk atoke Tz. In short hawa si marafiki wazuri kuna siku watakuja na mkataba wa ulizi na usalama kuwa nchi moja ikishambuliwa tutume majeshi wakijua kuwa wao wanamatatizo ya kigaidi. TUWE NAO MAKINI SANA HAWA JAMAA

Kucompete????Na Tz??Wah!!!

 

[Muria]

Being leading tourist attraction should be supported with figures! Those sight seeing tourists that come to Amboseli r nowhere near to those that go to Masai mara. And moreover that view is also present in Tanzania four picturesquares! You can see the Mt from Arusha National or Momella Park! You can see the Mt from Mkomazi! You can see the Mt from Moshi Town! You can see the Mt from lake Chala! Get urself conversant with what we are arguing here! A reason the Minister had to withdraw that statement! If you ask any Kenyan how many peaks are in Mt Kilimanjaro many will think one or two! A reason no Kenyan has that right of the best view!

The mountain is a revenue generating attraction for Kenya all the same. Most tourists aren't just interested in seeing the mountain, they want to enjoy it as a backdrop to game viewing and Kenya has succeeded in tapping into this than Tanzania. When you are in Moshi, yes you can see the mountain but you wont see elephants/giraffes/lions along with it, certainly not the view you will get in a lodge deep in Amboseli. That's the difference, and that's whats Kenya is selling. For a value oriented tourist, that's a big deal.

But you have also made my point for me, what TTB should consider is showing the alternatives as you have listed them there, Arusha National, Momella and Mkomazi. Take photos at these parks, use them to counter the Kenyan narrative, basically show better alternatives to the views that Kenya has to offer. If it is true, then surely the tourists themselves will see the value for money and the hype for the Kenyan side will die down. But expecting the Kenyans not to use the mountain to attract tourists just because it is in Tanzania is hypocritical. This is a race to woo tourist dollars and the best marketed vantage point will always win.

 

[Geza Ulole]

The mountain is a revenue generating attraction for Kenya all the same. Most tourists aren't just interested in seeing the mountain, they want to enjoy it as a backdrop to game viewing and Kenya has succeeded in tapping into this than Tanzania. When you are in Moshi, yes you can see the mountain but you wont see elephants/giraffes/lions along with it, certainly not the view you will get in a lodge deep in Amboseli. That's the difference, and that's whats Kenya is selling. For a value oriented tourist, that's a big deal.

But you have also made my point for me, what TTB should consider is showing the alternatives as you have listed them there, Arusha National, Momella and Mkomazi. Take photos at these parks, use them to counter the Kenyan narrative, basically show better alternatives to the views that Kenya has to offer. If it is true, then surely the tourists themselves will see the value for money and the hype for the Kenyan side will die down. But expecting the Kenyans not to use the mountain to attract tourists just because it is in Tanzania is hypocritical. This is a race to woo tourist dollars and the best marketed vantage point will always win.

A proof with figures that Amboseli gets more than Tanzania even on nature seeing tourism? Uache hearsays! That Kenya u yap about receives around 700,000 tourists versus 1.3 mln tourists in Tanzania! Muache kasumba mi najua utalii wa Tanzania na Kenya! As a matter of fact Kenya is in the last kicks of a dying donkey if Magufuli is to succeed to establish direct links to Europe, US and Asia!

 

[oneflash]

Huh!? We don't use drugs in our country-we banned Miraa long time ago😛. Did you mean 'dragging' as in drag?

Notice the presence of typos. Mradi ujumbe umeupokea.

 

[Muria]

A proof with figures that Amboseli gets more than Tanzania even on nature seeing tourism? Uache hearsays! That Kenya u yap about receives around 700,000 tourists versus 1.3 mln tourists in Tanzania! Muache kasumba mi najua utalii wa Tanzania na Kenya! As a matter of fact Kenya is in the last kicks of a dying donkey if Magufuli is to succeed to establish direct links to Europe, US and Asia!

Why do I getting the feeling that we are completely different wavelengths here. Umechanganya mitabendi bro. Articulate your point clearly, no one said that "Amboseli gets more than Tanzania even on nature seeing tourism".

1. Here is the total arrivals chart that I assume you would like to see. Clearly haujui utalii wa Kenya kama unavyodai kwa sababu kwa haraka haraha hesabu zako ziko off. The data shows Kenyan international arrivals to be 1.18m in 2015.

2. Below are the statistics for the various national reserves in Kenya and their visitor rates. If you would be kind enough to show us Mkomazi's Arusha National or Momella then we can easily compare and put this small matter to
rest.

I shall wait.

 

[Geza Ulole]

Why do I getting the feeling that we are completely different wavelengths here. Umechanganya mitabendi bro. Articulate your point clearly, no one said that "Amboseli gets more than Tanzania even on nature seeing tourism".

1. Here is the total arrivals chart that I assume you would like to see. Clearly haujui utalii wa Kenya kama unavyodai kwa sababu kwa haraka haraha hesabu zako ziko off. The data shows Kenyan international arrivals to be 1.18m in 2015.

2. Below are the statistics for the various national reserves in Kenya and their visitor rates. If you would be kind enough to show us Mkomazi's Arusha National or Momella then we can easily compare and put this small matter to
rest.

I shall wait.

Ohk from those numbers of tourists visiting in Amboseli, how is Kilimanjaro leading tourism attraction in Kenya? If there are 8 attractions having more visitors than Amboseli? Muache ujinga!

 

[Muria]

FYI These are the views value hungry tourists pay for.