Kenya, Tanzania set to meet over travel row on February 5
What you need to know:
- Kenya barred the vehicles from dropping off or picking up tourists at the airport in On December 22, last year.
- The decision had been taken following Tanzania’s refusal to allow Kenyan vans into the country.
- About 300,000 travellers from Tanzania use JKIA to access different destinations annually.
Kenya and Tanzania have set February 5 as the tentative date for talks on transport of tourists from the neighbouring country to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Last week, Kenya lifted a ban it had slapped on Tanzania tour vans operating between Arusha and the airport.
Kenya barred the vehicles from dropping off or picking up tourists at the airport in On December 22, last year.
The February meeting will seek to the review a bilateral agreement signed between the two countries in 1985.
“It is my hope that the tour operators from the two countries agree to work under joint ventures,” Tourism Cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie noted.
Last week, her Tanzanian counterpart, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, visited Kenya seeking redress to Kenya’s decision to block Tanzanian vans from accessing JKIA.
The decision had been taken following Tanzania’s refusal to allow Kenyan vans into the country.
“All we are looking for is fairness, we want to implement the bilateral agreement, or to review it to favour both countries,” Ms Kandie added.
The deal 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.
About 300,000 travellers from Tanzania use JKIA to access different destinations annually.
Other matters to be discussed at the meeting include the provision 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.
Tour firms from Tanzania drop tourists in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kajiado, Voi among other towns while Kenyan firms are allowed in Moshi and Arusha.
Kenyan tour firms have been complaining that they are not allowed to cross into Tanzania. The countries also agreed to scrap all fees levied on tour vans, tour guides and couriers.
