The Director of Vamos Travel Africa, a destination management company based in South Africa, Geniene Preston, recently discussed on Channel Africa issues of multi-city travel in Africa, how visa restrictions affect travels within Africa, among others. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts: Tell us about the East African tour operators’ visit to South Africa? We’ve just had a very successful week having East African tour operators join us in South Africa to come and promote Africa, especially East Africa, to South Africans both corporates, MICE and tour operators. It was nice for them to come and experience South Africa, because I think you only really experience a country when you visit it.
What are the restrictions we face travelling in Africa? When I went to visit Uganda for the first time, I was very nervous. I’m 64. I had never had a yellow fever injection.
All those good things and had all of that done beforehand as I arrived in Uganda. I think I was blown away by the friendliness of even their customs guys. Customs guys are generally very stern.
In Uganda, they greeted me with smiles. I travel with an Irish passport and they said to me, you are so welcome and you realise you don’t need a visa, so you must come back often. My husband, however, travels on a South African passport and that is challenging, especially in Africa.
When we travel internationally, when we hand in his passport for a visa, they automatically issue his free of charge due to my Irish Passport. Afri.
