Questions have arisen as to whether it is morally, intellectually or socially right for Zambia to proceed with the waiver of visa requirements for citizens of countries that are unwilling to reciprocate this gesture and continue subjecting Zambian citizens wishing to visit their countries to stringent and exorbitant Visa fees.
In an effort to jump start and exponentially grow its tourist arrivals, government officials have announced the waiving of visa requirements for about 17 countries deemed to be the highest source countries for its international tourist arrivals.
Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba has joined the 3 million target club which also has Minister of Finance Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane who had earlier announced a 3 million copper production target. The only difference is perhaps that Dr. Musokotwane’s announce a target achievement period of 10 years.
His counterpart, Tourism Minister Sikumba aims to hit the 3 million annual tourist arrivals target in 3 years. Sikumba announced that his ministry plans to increase tourist arrivals in Zambia from the existing peak of 1.2 million arrivals to 3 million in 2024.
Minister of Home Affairs Jack Mwiimbu confirmed at a media briefing that Zambia has waived visa for 17 countries that include, the United Kingdom – UK, United States of America – USA, Canada, Norway, Australia and New Zealand. Others countries are, China, Japan, South Korea, the Gulf States, Bahrain, Irag, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – UAE.
But a Lusaka based immigration Consultant says the waiving of visa requirements for 17 countries is a welcome move as it will help to boost the economy from the spend expected from the increased tourist arrivals.
Reacting on the matter, Managing consultant of an Immigration consultancy firm Robson Mulawa said the waiving of immigration fees for a visa which currently stands at $25.28 would be offset by gains from increased tourist arrivals. He did not however have the number on how much revenue loss will emanate from this initiative.
Mulawa told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that “It is okay [for government] to have waived the visa requirements, remember this has been done as a strategy to grow the tourism industry in Zambia and when tourists come in the country, they spend money and it has all the multiplier effects on the country.”
“It is a good thing and we do not need to compare what they are doing for us as it is us who are fighting to improve our own economy.” The Immigration firm Managing consultant said this has been done to increase the number of tourists coming into Zambia and when they come they spend money in the country a situation he reiterated that will help the GDP to grow.
Other experts have called on the minister of Tourism to reveal the revenue loss from this measure and advise how it will measure the gains other than just counting the number of tourist arrivals. If for instance, government currently collections as the immigration fee which currently stands at $25.28 for say 500,000 tourist arrivals, then we need to find ways to measure how these funds will be recovered.
There are also questions on the human relations principle of reciprocity, why offer citizens of a foreign country visa free access and entry into your country when they impose stringent and expensive visa requirements for your citizens? This is a moral issue that we shouldn’t sacrifice on the table of revenue expediency
