Starting June 1, Ethiopia will begin issuing online visas to tourists across the globe and other categories of applicants hoping to visit the East African nation.
The changes were announced by the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Fitsum Arega. According to him, the relaxed visa regime will boost the nation’s openness and galvanize the sterling reputation of its national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines.
Barely a week after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hinted that his country will be following in the footsteps of Rwanda by going the visa-free route, opening the country’s corridors to all Africans.
While hosting his Rwanda counterpart, Paul Kagame, at a state banquet during an official visit to Addis Ababa, Abiy said ”The President invited all Africans to travel to Rwanda without visas, we will follow you very soon”.
The news which largely stirred positive reactions, especially on social media as people are gradually buying into the notion of a United Africa, with the free movement of people.
Ethiopia prides itself on having one of the continent’s finest commercial airliner, Ethiopian Airlines, has transformed the Bole International Airport in the nation’s capital, Addis Ababa int a global aviation hub.
The disclosure by the Prime Minister has been received with mixed reviews across the country, having been regarded in the past as not being open vis-a-vis the acquisition to visas. The tourism sector will get the necessary reboot under the new online visa policy.
Neba Benson,
BaretaNews Foreign Correspondent/Analyst
