The Zimbabwean government has relaxed the visa regime for 37 countries including China while it has removed visa requirements for all visitors from the Southern African Development Community. This should greatly boost tourism to the country and is welcomed by all in the sector.
Zimbabwe uses a three tier visa model. The model is classified into categories A, B and C. Category A nationals are exempt from visas, category B nationals can obtain visas at the port of entry on arrival and Category C nationals must apply for visas prior to travel.
With immediate effect China, along with 36 other countries, had been moved from Category C to B. All SADC countries have now been migrated to Category A.
Immigration principal director Clemence Masango said
This new position is in response to the voice of players and interest groups in the tourism and hospitality industry who want to see more facilitation of movement of persons than control
Masango further said the Visa regime revision is part of an ongoing process and consultations will continue with a view to further relax visa controls in order to make travel easier and Zimbabwe a more favourable and accessible destination.
Masango also said consultations are ongoing to re-institute the KAZA-UNIVISA project which stopped in December last year with a view of resuming the system in this month. (source: AllAfrica.com)
Shane White, Marketing director of Wild Horizons said the relaxation of visa regulations is welcomed by the company.
We are delighted to see a relaxing of the Visa regime and are confident that this will lead to an increase in tourism numbers from the affected countries
