Kenya has repealed the online visa requirement for visitors coming into the country. This comes after the government’s previous ban on the manual issuance of visa’s at Kenya’s points of entry.

While the previous order came on the heels of Kenya’s battle with terrorists emerging even from developed countries, tourism sector players had predicted a drop in the number of tourists coming to Kenya. This is because online e-visas usually take at least two days to be processed, thereby hindering any businessmen, tourists and other last-minute visitors from coming to Kenya. In the past visitors from many countries were accepted into Kenya as their visas were stamped at the airport.

The two visa systems will now run jointly until the online application is fully functional.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who announced the reversal, said the country has been faced with challenges in implementing the new online visa system. He also explained that the manual system would continue so as not to bar visitors. “[…] I have, therefore, ordered that application of visa on arrival to the country continues as it were,” the President said.

This latest development is therefore good news for Kenya’s tourism sector, which was on the verge of becoming Africa’s preferred tourism destination. The ministry of tourism, stakeholders of the industry and the World Bank, in March, launched an online directory with information on the East African nation’s beautiful scenery, accommodation facilities and tour operators.

“A digital platform that reveals key attractions in the country will complement our strategy to improve our competitiveness and market Kenya as a preferred destination of choice across east Africa and beyond,” said Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie, in Nairobi.

Kenya, last year, turned to social media to help steer the recovery of the industry following the effect of terror attacks in the country. The government also set aside $10 million to implement a tourism recovery plan.

Kandie however disclosed that Kenya will soon start marketing itself via the international media to remind the world that the East African nation is an ideal tourist destination. Using digital space, counties in Kenya will be able to showcase tourist attraction sites.

Tourism in Kenya contributes about 14 percent of GDP and 12 percent of total employment, making it second, only to agriculture in terms of importance.