Tanzania and other members of the East African Community are still assessing their readiness to adopt a single tourist visa as they face technical challenges.
Tabling estimates for the 2012/13 budget, the minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta, said there were challenges facing the implementation of the proposed visa system which should be addressed first.
The challenges were faced in collection and distribution of revenue, security and economic as well as technological infrastructure.
“These challenges need to be seriously addressed and specific strategies put in place,” said Mr Sitta.
According to the minister, his docket in collaboration with relevant ministries were currently undertaking an internal study to determine what would be needed for Tanzania to adopt the proposed single tourist visa and to prepare accordingly.
The Council of Ministers of the EAC urged partner states to take steps towards promoting the region as a single tourist destination.
With a single visa, tourists will pay only once at the entrance points but end up visiting member states of their choice hence necessitating the need for a proper revenue-sharing formula.
However, at times up to 90 per cent of foreign tourists visited the region land in Kenya before proceeding to attractive sites elsewhere in the region as per a report in The Citizen.
The opposition camp urged the government to be careful and advertise its tourist destination to increase its foreign earnings from tourism.
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