Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
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Tanzania tour vans barred from JKIA and all parks
The Tourism ministry said on Friday that the move was a bid to implement the 1985 bilateral agreement to ensure fairness of trade between Kenya and Tanzania.
Kenya's East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie. FILE | NATION MEDIA
Tanzanian-registered tour vans will no longer be allowed to access Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and game parks in Kenya.
East African Affairs, Trade and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said a three-week window requested by Tanzania to allow both countries to discuss and sort out the issue had elapsed.
"The meeting to discuss these issues has not taken place," Ms Kandie said.
"Those three weeks have now expired without our Tanzanian counterparts convening the meeting for the negotiations," she noted.
Ms Kandie said the government had, as a result, resolved to implement the bilateral agreement between Kenya and Tanzania signed in 1985 to ensure fairness of trade between the two countries.
TANZANIA'S REFUSAL
The decision to invoke the bilateral agreement was taken following Tanzania's refusal to allow Kenyan vans into the country.
The agreement stipulates how tourism operations between the two countries should be conducted.
It provides that tour vans drop off holidaymakers at convenient points in their respective countries as opposed to an earlier arrangement where tourists were being dropped off at border points.
The Cabinet secretary, however, expressed hope that the agreement would soon be reviewed to ease tourism operations in both countries.
Source: Daily Nation
7th February 15
Kenya restores ban on TZ cars at airports, parks
The Guardian Reporter
Kenya government yesterday banned all Tanzania registered vehicles from accessing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and game parks in Kenya.
Information posted on the website of the Kenyan newspaper, The Daily Nation yesterday stated that the East African Affairs, Trade and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said in a statement that a three-week window requested by Tanzania to allow the two countries to discuss and sort out the issue had elapsed.
"The meeting to discuss these issues has not taken place," Ms Kandie was quoted by The Daily Nation as affirming.
"Those three weeks have now expired without our Tanzanian counterparts convening the meeting for the negotiations," she elaborated.
Ms Kandie said the government had, as a result, resolved to implement the bilateral agreement between Kenya and Tanzania in 1985 to ensure fairness of trade between the two countries.
TANZANIA'S REFUSAL
The decision to invoke the bilateral agreement was taken following Tanzania's refusal to allow Kenyan vans into the country.
The agreement stipulates how tourism operations between the two countries should be conducted.
It provides that tour vans drop holidaymakers at convenient points in their respective countries as opposed to an earlier arrangement where tourists were being dropped at border points.
The cabinet secretary, however, expressed hope that the 30 year agreement would soon be reviewed to ensure ease of doing business in both countries.
Kenyan authorities on December 22 banned Tanzanian-registered vehicles from dropping or picking up passengers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
EAC Secretary-General Richard Sezibera on Tuesday said they had not been officially notified of the problem "although I have seen reports about it in the media."
The EAC Scretariat had recently urged Tanzania and Kenya to amicably resolve the dispute caused by the decision to deny Tanzanian-registered tour vans entry into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
Ambassador Sezibera was quoted telling journalists in his office that it was the wish of the regional organisation to see the issue resolved swiftly and amicably for the benefit of the region.
"We will encourage anything that will facilitate regional integration," he edmphasizedd.
Efforts to reach minister for East African Cooperation Dr Harrison Mwakyembe and his Tourism and Natural Resources counterpart Lazaro Nyalandu yesterday to respond on the new ban proved abortive as their phones went unanswered.
However, early last month Nyalandu reacted on the previous ban, saying the Kenyan decision was retaliation for its stand of refusing to open the northern Serengeti park border post.
"This act jeopardises the long-term bilateral relationship between
the two countries and must be strongly condemned," Nyalandu was quoted as telling tour operators in Arusha. Such an act was unwelcome and needed to be reviewed to allow tourists access to transportation, he further stated.
A section of the Tanzania media including The Guardian reported that Kenya's Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) had banned Tanzania's tour operators and vehicles from taking visitors to Kenya's game reserves and parks.
KRA Acting Director General Korir Lagat was quoted as telling a stakeholders' meeting in Kisumu that his country would not allow vehicles bearing Tanzanian number plates enter their parks.
The media said such a move was in response to a similar action by Tanzanian tourism authorities, whom it accused of deliberately locking out Kenyan tour operators from key reserves and the Serengeti in particular.
The Tanzania government was however quick to act, forming a task force involving four ministries - East African Cooperation, Tourism and Natural Resources, Transport and Industries and Trade to probe the factors behind Kenya's move.
The two EAC partner states are major competitors in the multimillion-dollar tourism industry and attract over half of the nearly four million tourists visiting the region annually.
THE GUARDIAN
11th February 15
Govt: Kenya's ban flouts tourism pact
Carolyne Madoshi
Tanzania has expressed grave concern over Kenya's decision to ban vehicles registered in Tanzania from entering Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to drop off and pick up tourists, saying the move violates the two neighbouring countries' 1985 bilateral agreement on cooperation in tourism.
According to the government the move is also against the agreement reached by both governments mid January this year.
The agreement requires Kenya to uplift the ban as officials from both countries work on the possibilities to review the bilateral agreement on cooperation in tourism.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, East African Cooperation Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe wondered as to why Kenya had decided to restore the ban while the deadline for reviewing the bilateral agreement is March 31st, this year.
Dr Mwakyembe said that in their January meeting, this year both parties agreed that Tanzania will take a lead in convening and hosting the bilateral meeting to review the agreement because it is the current chair of the East African Community (EAC).
However, Kenya's Trade and Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Phyllis Kandie claimed last week that a three-week window requested by Tanzania to allow the two countries to discuss and sort out the issue had elapsed without Tanzanian convening the meeting for negotiations.
According to Dr Mwakyembe, Kenya's move does comply with the vision for establishment of the EAC.
He explained that the recent move by Kenyan government is meant to force Tanzania to initiate the process of reviewing the 1985's bilateral agreement.
"Reviewing the bilateral agreement requires involvement of various stakeholders…it cannot be done in a hurry. We need to get opinions from other related ministries and players in the private sectors," said the EAC Minister, adding that Kenya shouldn't force the review by banning Tanzanian tour vans.
He noted that, the talks have already started involving officials from Ministries of Finance, Tourism and Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Home Affairs, Transport and the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment.
The minister also said that despite the ban, the country's tourism sector is performing well. He said the ban has not affected the economy and revenues from the tourism sector as tourists still came in the country.
"We respect our bilateral friendship that has existed for almost 50 years…we will continue to respect and obey the order so as to safeguard the friendship and the integration we have via the EAC," said Dr Mwakyembe.
He further said that all international airports in Tanzania will continue to be a gateway to within and outside the EAC. He said that entry points cannot be considered as tourist attractions.
"We will continue allow motor vehicles from the EAC member states in our land so long as they don't go to the tourist attractions…we are open for anyone who want to drop off or pick up tourists from our entry points," he said.
He also mentioned some of the issues that were discussed during the January meeting with their Kenyan counterparts as Kenya's refusal to recognise Tarakea route for transit goods and delays by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to release information to their counterpart Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for goods clearance.
For her part, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation, Joyce Mapunjo said that Kenya has adversely gone against the agreement signed by two nations in January, this year.
Mapunjo said the incident has led to inconveniences within the tourism business in both countries.
THE GUARDIAN
MY TAKE;
I demand a similar response from TCAA on Kenyan access to our airports! we can't let a foreign country force us where to enter and for free! Tourism as our leading source of income should not be shared by anyone for free those Kenyan vehicles should pay gate entrance at our parks! and Bolongoja gate should not be opened! End of story!!
MY TAKE EARLIER
Bologonja gate should remain closed as the 1985 Agreement stipulates and most important on ecological reasons. Tour vans from Kenya wishing to operate within Tanzanian parks should pay licence and park fees as regulations entail, no negotiation on the reopening and waiving licence and park fees should be entertained as a matter of fact KQ should be stopped from operating in Tanzania since Fastjet partly owned by Tanzanian individuals by 51% is prevented to access JKIA in disregard of BASA.
For sustainability of our business by now i should have expected Mr Nyalandu to be in Ethiopia, South Africa, Turkey, UAE, Qatar and Egypt negotiating how ET, SAA, Turkish airlines, Emirates and Egyptair can take over that logistic business on our horticulture and tourists since KAA will block our cargo and shuttle services from accessing JKIA as they have done several times. At any point in time Tanzanians have never asked and will never ask to access JKIA free of charge and still our flower export has been barred to access the JKIA. Let the challenges we face from our jealous neighbor unite us and makes us emerge stronger and do once for all forgetting JKIA and embrace KIA via tangible improvements.
Business should always operate on free market principles that demand and supply rule, when you see a neighbor is cunningly trying to force his base down your throat so as to remain a relevant hub via dirty underhand tricks; tread that neighbor with caution. Opening Bolongoja gate is a continuation of dependence on Nairobi to fly our tourists while entertaining their protectionism practices on airlines across the region that attempt to access their bases.
Hon. Nyalandu, i saw you receiving the Emirates delegation on their Serengeti royal itinerary, try to negotiate with them to introduce cargo flights to KIA, meet Ms Mkindi and other TAHA stakeholders and discuss a way forward. Be sharp and make right decisions and let that Nyang'au's attitude drool on greedy acts that try to frustrate the gain on our tourism (anticipated to hit a 2 million mark by 2017) that we worked so hard to promote with the I-fone App the recent achievement. Moreover think of establishing direct connections with the US while Kenya is trying to do so with KQ. TTB and your office should try to convince American airlines to fly direct to KIA or via Nairobi so as to avoid dependence on Kenya that come with NTBs esp. when connections between the US and Kenya are established and knowing Fastjet is blocked from flying to Nairobi. The same approach should be pursued with China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan and any other destination that makes Kenya a transit hub to discourage their greedy attempt to benefit from visitors to Tanzania using JKIA.
If necessary Mr Nyalandu and transport minister should try to evoke the 6th freedom and other incentives for airlines willing to take over the business esp. for perishable cargo business that is to suffer most if a ban is to be re-introduced since the number of tourists flying via JKIA has been dropping with the introduction of middle eastern carriers at the moment around 200,000 translating to 1/5th of all tourists flying to Tanzania's tourists attractions a number can be taken over across. On the longer run Hon. Nyalandu should try to work tourism partnerships with countries like Egypt that offers different packages to ours and can complement to what we offer.
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