Across Africa, visa openness has emerged as a critical driver of integration, trade, and tourism, reflecting the continent’s commitment to breaking down barriers. The Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) for 2024 highlights remarkable strides in this regard, celebrating nations that have taken bold steps to welcome travellers. Nigeria was among the top performers this year, securing the sixth position, a significant leap that underscores the country’s efforts to promote regional collaboration and global connectivity. As defined by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Visa openness measures how easy it is for travellers to secure entry into a country.
This progress signals the country’s determination to enhance cross-border movement, regional trade, and international relations. Key policy innovations laid the foundation for this success, like the Nigerian Visa Policy 2020, which expanded permit classes from six to 79 and introduced permit-on-arrival for African Union nationals. This was further enhanced by introducing an electronic travel permit (e-Visa) system in July 2024, allowing travellers to apply online and collect their permits upon arrival. These initiatives have reduced administrative barriers, positioned the region as a more accessible destination for business and leisure travellers, and reduced travel permit-on-arrival fees by over 50% in September 2024.
Economic opportunities in the tourism and aviation industry.
Furthermore, this improved travel policy has opened doors for economic benefits, particularly in tourism and aviation. As a result, experts, including travel consultant Ikechi Uko, have noted that the region must implement a cohesive national tourism strategy to maximise these gains. While states like Lagos and Cross River have taken strides in global marketing, the region lags behind countries like Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana, which have successfully harnessed travel permit openness to enhance tourism revenue. Rwanda, for instance, has seen remarkable growth by integrating travel permits with its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism strategy, generating millions in Revenue annually.
In aviation, free travel permits allow the nation to reclaim its position as a leading travel hub in West Africa. Previously, airlines like Arik Air and Virgin Nigeria connected Lagos to multiple international destinations, but this dominance has decreased. Although airlines like Air Peace and Ibom Air are operational, they have not matched the extensive networks of their predecessors. Coupled with outdated airport Infrastructure and a lack of efficient transfer services, the nation’s potential as an Aviation hub remains underutilised.
Challenges of regional integration and trade facilitation in Africa.
Meanwhile, the country’s travel reforms aligns with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), facilitating the free movement of people and goods across the continent. This policy supports regional integration, strengthens trade relationships, and promotes collaboration, which is critical for the continent’s economic advancement. Moreover, the movement of people often leads to increased trade and cargo opportunities. Experts have called for a coordinated national strategy involving agencies like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to position the country as a regional trade and Logistics hub.
Despite these advancements, the region faces challenges leveraging its travel strategy for economic transformation. Airport infrastructure gaps, inadequate Airline connectivity, and the absence of a comprehensive tourism and trade policy hinder the full realisation of potential benefits. Additionally, Security concerns remain a critical factor. To maintain national security, the government must balance promoting accessibility and ensuring robust border controls. Uko emphasises the need for a unified national strategy to maximise the gains of free travel permits. This strategy should focus on integrating tourism, aviation, trade, and MICE sectors to create a cohesive framework for economic growth.
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On the other hand, nations like Ghana have demonstrated the power of strategic planning by using temporary travel permit promotions to boost tourism during holiday seasons. Nigeria, with its vast resources and cultural heritage, has the potential to surpass these successes if it aligns its policies with actionable goals. With a strategic approach, the country can harness its visa openness to enhance tourism, attract investment, and solidify its position as a leading player in the continent’s economic landscape. This is an opportunity not just to open borders but to open pathways to shared prosperity.