The introduction of $75 visa fee on countries that impose similar fees on Malawians continues to stir debate among players in tourism and travel sectors.
While the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has said the strategy has boosted its revenue, officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism recently told the International Relations Committee of Parliament that some stakeholders have complained that the introduction of visa fees has prompted some tourists to shun Malawi.
On his part, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism Cliff Chiunda acknowledged that the ministry has been approached on the issue.
“We have received concerns from operators and, as government, we have since met the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services and we are reviewing that [policy]. Very shortly, we are going to make recommendations to the government in terms of what will be the next course of action,” Chiunda said.
However, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services spokesperson Joseph Chauwa has commended the new system, saying it has boosted the department’s coffers.
“The department has seen an increase in the collection of foreign exchange as visa fees are paid in US dollars. By February this year, the department had collected over K6 billion, which represents 88 percent of the target of K6.9 billion set by the government as collections from various immigration permit fees.
These include business residence permit, temporary residence permit and visa application fees,” Chauwa said.
He added that the money collected from submission of applications and anything in this regard goes straight to Account Number One.
The government introduced a new visa regime in October 2015 and countries affected by the development include the United States of America, Japan and China.
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