Five Southern African nations have taken a significant step to boost tourism in their region by expanding a regional visa system, akin to the Schengen Visa in Europe. Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, all part of the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, have agreed to extend the existing “univisa” scheme. Originally covering Zambia and Zimbabwe and permitting short visits to Botswana via Kazungula, this unified visa is expected to simplify travel and increase tourist numbers within the region.
During a recent summit in Livingstone, Zambia, leaders from the KAZA countries endorsed the extension of the univisa to include additional nations within both the conservation area and the broader Southern African economic community. Botswana’s Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane, affirmed his country’s full adoption of the univisa, emphasizing its role as a Schengen-like visa for Southern Africa.
The expanded visa scheme aims to attract more visitors to the region and enhance its appeal as a top travel destination. This move is anticipated to spur economic growth and foster greater cooperation in tourism among the participating countries.
In addition to expanding the visa scheme, the KAZA member states are lobbying for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to lift its ban on elephant and ivory trading. They argue that selling accumulated ivory, valued at around $1 billion, would provide vital funds for conservation efforts.
Similar to the Schengen Visa in Europe, other regions are also exploring unified visa schemes to facilitate tourism. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to launch a unified tourist visa between 2024 and 2025. This visa will allow travelers to visit multiple GCC countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—with a single visa, extending the maximum stay to 15 days within Council member states. The unified GCC tourist visa is expected to boost tourism in the region and attract visitors from Asia, Europe, and the United States.