Kenya has decided to exempt passport holders from South Africa and six other countries from paying an entry fee that was introduced last month.
This move comes after the government scrapped visa requirements for all foreign passport holders in a bid to promote tourism and attract business travelers.
The introduction of a $30 (£23) entry fee last month had sparked criticism, especially as it applied to some visitors who previously did not require visas. Critics argued that this fee could lead to countries with visa-waiver agreements introducing similar fees, increasing travel costs and bureaucracy.
The exemption from the entry fee has now been extended to passport holders from South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Mozambique, and San Marino. These countries have either entered into visa abolition agreements or signed bilateral visa waiver agreements with Kenya.
Despite the exemption from the entry fee, travelers from these countries will still need to obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA) document in advance to enter Kenya.
This document requires travelers to provide information such as flight details and proof of accommodation and is valid for single entry for up to 90 days.