Malawi has recently announced a significant step towards boosting tourism and trade within its borders by lifting visa restrictions for travelers coming from 79 different countries.
In this regard, President Lazarus Chakwera revealed the decision aims to facilitate entry for visitors, specifically from countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Russia, Germany, Australia, Canada, France, members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), VisaGuide.World reports.
As African News explains, following Malawi’s new visa regulations, multiple entry visas now grant travelers up to 12 months of validity. However, this exemption doesn’t extend to countries that impose visa requirements on Malawian citizens.
In addition, certain privileged groups such as diplomats, government officials, and countries with mutual exchange agreements for multiple-entry visas with Malawi are also exempt from these regulations.
The British embassy in Malawi has encouraged its nationals to seize the opportunity presented by the recently eased visa restrictions and explore the numerous popular tourist attractions in the southern African country.
Malawi’s Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule, noted that tourism is the third largest contributor to foreign earnings for the economically disadvantaged nation, after the tobacco and tea industries. Recognizing tourism’s key role in strengthening the economy, Malawi has outlined a comprehensive strategy to attract investment in various sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and mining.
Malawi, boasting a natural habitat rich in wildlife, including elephants, hippos, and crocodiles, is situated partially along the shores of Lake Malawi, Africa’s third-largest freshwater lake, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Historically, Malawi’s stringent visa requirements have been a significant barrier to realizing its potential for tourist inflows. With its new visa policies, it joins the growing list of countries making travel more accessible for international visitors.
In addition to Malawi, last month, Ghana announced plans to implement a policy allowing visa-free entry for all African visitors by the end of 2024. While 48 African countries offer visa-free travel to citizens of at least one other African nation, only five out of 52 African countries allow complete visa-free entry.
Seychelles, Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Benin are the only countries every African can visit without a visa.
Moreover, in November 2023, Rwanda also extended visa-free entry to all African nationals, positioning itself as the latest African nation to adopt such a policy to promote free movement and trade across the continent.