- Tsaone Segaetsho
The issue of visa restrictions in Africa reflects a lack of security and trust among nations. This is the view of Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa.
Munetsi expressed his thoughts during the ongoing Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards (ATLF) 2024, where he participated as a panellist on the topic: “The State of Africa’s Visa Openness and its Impact on Destination Africa 2030.”
As someone with extensive experience in the aviation industry and the various visa regimes across Southern Africa and the continent, Munetsi was critical of the current state of affairs.
While many policymakers view visas as a tool for national security or as a source of revenue, Munetsi argued that not opening borders is indicative of insecurity and a lack of trust among sovereign nations.
“Definitely, there is a lack of trust… I don’t want to mince my words and say it is a trust deficit. There is totally a lack of trust among African nations… We don’t trust each other,” said Munetsi.
During the panel discussion, experts and key stakeholders explored how visa openness could enhance travel across the continent and support the goal of making Africa a preferred destination. The main focus of the discussion was on the need for streamlined visa processes, regional cooperation, and policies that promote inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.
Munetsi explained that the origin of visas in Africa was merely a conformity to global political standards, describing them as an artificial barrier that exists solely for political inclusion.
He went on to say that this artificial barrier has become entrenched, with many states now viewing visas as a financial asset, a “cash cow.” However, Munetsi warned that any country that sees visas as a significant source of revenue is being short-sighted, arguing that allowing visa-free access, particularly for fellow Africans, could generate ten times more economic benefit.
Munetsi also highlighted that, as of 2023, 28 African countries allow fellow Africans to obtain visas on arrival. He further pointed out that only five out of the 55 countries in Africa offer visa-free entry.
In his research, Munetsi found that these five countries experienced double-digit growth in terms of African visitors and tourists last year.
It was also noted that Africa has some of the strictest visa rules globally, which Munetsi described as absurd, emphasising that Africa needs the world as much as the world needs Africa.
Many participants agreed that closing borders results in significant lost opportunities, which could be recaptured by easing visa restrictions for tourism and business travel.
One of the panellists, Christian Gakwaya, CEO & Founder of Rwanda Events Group, shared that his country, Rwanda, which is visa-free, benefits from what he termed “visionary leadership.” As a result, Rwanda consistently ranks high in terms of attracting investors and foreign direct investment (FDI) and excels in the Ease of Doing Business rankings.
Seahsel Mohammed, a delegate from Rwanda based in Somalia, raised another issue on the sidelines of the Forum—the challenge of transit visas, which had not been discussed during the panel.
“This is when you find yourself applying for a visa twice. For example, you would apply for a visa to enter Botswana and then again for transit through South Africa. Or you apply for a visa for any country where your aircraft connects,” Mohammed explained.
He shared with The Executive Botswana a scenario where obtaining a visa for the initial destination is already challenging, only to be compounded by the need for a transit visa.
Mohammed concluded by noting that most African immigration officers are not trained or equipped to “sell their countries” for tourism, and that they require capacity building in this regard.
