With the new flight advantages Kenyans an now spread their their wings and fly to many places as we also our doors to more foreign business transactions. We must admit the future looks great interms of business and vacations.
As per the latest flight news, frequent travellers will be eligible for three-year multiple entry visas effective December 1, 2018 under the agreement reached today in Pretoria by Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
“Technical officers from both countries were also tasked with finding ways of reducing travel restrictions, with a view of completely removing short term (180) days) and transit visa requirements for nationals from the two countries with ordinary passports,” a statement from the Interior Ministry indicated.
The new deal is also set to benefit government officials who are travelling on official business to South Africa as they will be granted three-month free visas.
“With Kenya Airways already doing an average of three non-stop flights from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to South Africa daily, the new arrangement is expected to enhance people to people contact and unlock the two countries’ tourism and business potential,” read part of the statement.
According to Matiangi, the deal has further committed both Kenya and South Africa to step up its effort in combating illegal immigration and also protect the integrity of each other’s travel documents.
Matiangi was accompanied by the Border Control Principal Secretary Gordon Kihalangwa and the High Commissioner to South Africa, Jean Kamau.
The number of long term Kenyan residents in South Africa is estimated at 40,000 and this runs into hundreds more when those who live in South Africa for lesser periods, especially for research and studies, are factored in.
A number of South African companies are reaching maturity in the domestic market and looking north of the border for new investment opportunities. On the other hand, Kenya is looking for investment capital to boost the economy. Our role is to make these South African and Kenyan interests achieved.