Visa for Zambia anyone?
In January Zambia abolished the visa waiver previously available to British citizens and introduced new charges with immediate effect. The Finance Ministry said that increased charges were in response to the UK’s high fees for visitors from Zambia, now £63. A single-entry visa to Zambia now costs £75 and a multiple-entry visa £240.
Irish travellers are not charged and a single entry visa costs other EU nationals £25, Canadians £28 and US travellers £67.
The levy is already causing problems for visitors. A group of sixth-formers from Bucks almost cancelled plans for a charitable trip to Zambia as they faced an extra £2,000 in charges. They had already raised their £19,000 target to take computers and other equipment out to help schools, leaving the goods behind to support the local people. They then had to rely on the goodwill of their school and local people who lent them the money to allow the trip to go ahead.
Tour operators are concerned that the tourist industry will be damaged. Travellers have already reported concerns over visits to Victoria Falls where crossing to Zambia from other countries involves the visa fee which must be paid in cash, using either Sterling or US dollars. Visit website.