- October 31, 2016
- Posted by: ABO Capital
- Category: Publications by Zandre Campos
Making travel on the continent easier can boost tourism revenues and increase employment.
Earlier this year, the African Union launched a national passport, an electronic passport, which will eliminate visa requirements for Africans traveling to any country on the continent. The common e-passport was issued initially to heads of state and senior officials, with the goal of providing passports to all African citizens by 2020. By making travel easier, the national passport will open up tourism to the billion Africans on the continent – a population expected to double by 2050 — as well as foster new business opportunities and facilitate economic growth.
Today, travel on the continent remains difficult for most Africans. According to the African Visa Openness Report 2016, issued by the African Development Bank Group and the African Union, visas are required for more than half of the countries on the continent. Only 13 African countries don’t require visas or issue them on arrival. In fact, it can be easier for non-Africans to travel to many African countries. For example, U.S. citizens can travel to 20 African countries without visas or with visas on arrival.