Rwandan President Paul Kagame has declared that all Africans will be permitted to enter Rwanda without visas.
This announcement was made during his presentation at the 23rd global summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, where he was promoting Rwanda as a tourist destination.
“Let there be no mistake about it. Any African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and will not pay a thing to enter our country,” Kagame said.
“We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come.
“We must work closely together with partners, like the WTTC, to continue developing Africa into a premium destination for global travel.”
Kagame said Rwanda identified tourism as a key driver of economic growth and built on the sector as a healing balm from the genocide of nearly 30 years ago.
“Every year, we welcome so many visitors who come to Rwanda to enjoy the unique natural beauty, attend sporting events, or participate in gatherings like this. This is a privilege and a trust that we don’t take for granted,” he added.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame expressed confidence in Africa’s potential as a unified tourism destination and extended an invitation to tourists from both within and outside the continent to visit.
This move makes Rwanda the fourth African nation, following Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin Republic, to allow visa-free travel for citizens of other African countries.
It is part of a broader effort within Africa to promote the free movement of people and trade, akin to Europe’s Schengen zone.