Rwandan President Paul Kagame has announced that the country will grant visa-free travel to all Africans, joining a growing list of nations on the continent that are taking steps to boost tourism and trade.
Kagame made the announcement on Thursday during a speech in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. He emphasized the immense potential of Africa as a unified tourism destination, noting that the continent currently relies heavily on tourists from outside Africa, who account for 60% of its total visitors.
“Any African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country,” Kagame said during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council. “We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come.”
Rwanda’s decision to eliminate visa restrictions for Africans follows similar moves by Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles. Kenya’s President William Ruto has also announced plans to allow visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31.
The move to open up borders within Africa is seen as a positive step towards promoting integration and economic development on the continent. It is also expected to boost tourism and trade, as Africans will be able to travel more freely and easily within their own region.