Kenya gambles on new visa fees, leaving tourism sector worried about numbers

Tourists arriving on board the Ms Marco Polo cruise ship at the port of Mombasa for a past safari. 

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Kenya’s decision to revise visitor entry authorisation fees may jolt an overall tourism scene in the East African region, even as authorities in Nairobi say they will monitor for impact.

This week, Kenya formally revised and introduced new electronic travel authorisation (eTA) fees, raising concerns from the tourism stakeholders who worry it could be another barrier to free movement the sector relies on to boost sales.