Tourism sector vital for EAC - EALA says, as it calls for embrace of Single Tourism Visa
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, October 3rd 2019: Despite the significant contribution of the tourism sector in region’s economic growth, provision of employment and poverty reduction, certain overriding challenges that include sector underfunding, insecurity, lack of harmonized policies and laws, among others, need to be speedily addressed, the East African Legislative Assembly has said. A report of the Assembly on the Oversight activity on the Performance of the Tourism Sector in the region, wants the EAC to fastrack the conclusion of the EAC Protocol on Tourism and Wildlife Management, as well as in strengthening a pool of EAC Classification Assessors to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in classification of tourism establishment.
The Assembly is also reiterating creation of a well-coordinated and digitized information exchange hub for the advancement of joint tourist visa mechanism in a bid to attract tourists in the region. Hon Mary Mugyenyi who presented the report to the House further said it was necessary for the Partner States to harmonise their national laws on tourism and related sectors. The EAC Council of Ministers is further urged to follow up with the Republics of Burundi and South Sudan and the United Republic of Tanzania to join the EAC Single Tourist Visa.
