Kenya says first 'visa free' tourists arrive in country

The Kenyan government on Friday reported the arrival of the initial group of international tourists under a streamlined admission process designed to attract more visitors. The immigration services agency confirmed the successful arrival of the first “visa free” travelers, who landed in Nairobi from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, with more expected in the following days.

Kenya’s President William Ruto had announced previously the removal of visa requirements for visitors to the country, effective from January. Julius Bitok, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary, affirmed that all travelers to Kenya, regardless of their nationality, would be exempt from visa requirements.

Under the new policy, travelers would apply online for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and pay a "processing" fee of $30. Bitok stated at the introduction of the system at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where it would be open to tourists from all nations globally.

However, the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority warned last Tuesday that the new ETA system was still undergoing development and implementation.

Tourist arrivals in Kenya for 2022 were reported as 1.54 million, still lower than pre-pandemic numbers, as per the information from the tourism department. Yet, Kenya Tourism Board chair Francis Gichaba expressed optimism in November that the number might surpass the 2019 figure of 1.9 million and reach two million in the fiscal year.