TANZANIA and Kenya are embroiled in another clash that will further hamper integration efforts over disagreement on charges on tour vans operating between the two countries. Tourism Minister Najib Balala has accused Tanzania of unfairly charging Kenyan tour vans for entering the country vans from Tanzania were not being levied any fees to enter Kenya. This issue of tour operator vehicles should be resolved and I appeal to the president (Mwai Kibaki) to resolve this issue not only for the sake of Kenya but for Tanzania as well," said Balala at a media briefing held in his office.
He said allowing tourists to "freely flow" through the region by travels organised by regional tour operators will grow tourism in East Africa. Under the common market protocol businesses were supposed to operate in a borderless manner in which taxes subjected to foreign enterprises were to be abolished. This latest row among the two countries, Balala said, will be discussed in an upcoming East Africa Community Summit next week in a bid to reach a resolution.
This is not the first time Tanzania has clashed with Kenya as local truck drivers also complained of unfair levies at Tanzanian border points whereas their counterparts from that country were allowed free entry into Kenya. The latest move that could affect regional growth in tourism could also scuttle ongoing plans for a single tourist visa for the EAC region to make the destination more marketable. On the visa, Balala said that an announcement would be made soon on the status of the project.
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He said allowing tourists to "freely flow" through the region by travels organised by regional tour operators will grow tourism in East Africa. Under the common market protocol businesses were supposed to operate in a borderless manner in which taxes subjected to foreign enterprises were to be abolished. This latest row among the two countries, Balala said, will be discussed in an upcoming East Africa Community Summit next week in a bid to reach a resolution.
This is not the first time Tanzania has clashed with Kenya as local truck drivers also complained of unfair levies at Tanzanian border points whereas their counterparts from that country were allowed free entry into Kenya. The latest move that could affect regional growth in tourism could also scuttle ongoing plans for a single tourist visa for the EAC region to make the destination more marketable. On the visa, Balala said that an announcement would be made soon on the status of the project.
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