WINDHOEK, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security announced that its newly implemented e-visa and visa-on-arrival system has generated over 25 million Namibian dollars (about 1.33 million U.S. dollars) in its first month of operation.
Etienne Maritz, the ministry's executive director, said in a statement Thursday evening that since the system's launch on March 3 through April 3, 15,506 travelers utilized the online e-visa application, contributing more than 24.4 million Namibian dollars to the revenue.
An additional 1.1 million Namibian dollars were generated from 820 in-person visa-on-arrival applications, bringing the total revenue to 25.5 million Namibian dollars.
"We will be providing updates on the developments, including visa exempted countries for countries eligible for visa on arrival. Please follow our social media platforms for updates. The e-visa is printed with a quick response code. Travelers must scan the QR code to obtain more information," he added.
Maritz, meanwhile, said the new visa-on-arrival process is designed to facilitate smoother travel experiences, reducing waiting times and simplifying entry procedures.
"We are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible. We appreciate the understanding and patience of the travelers as we address any potential issues," he added.
Namibia's reciprocity-based visa exemption policy, which took effect on April 1, has led the southwestern African nation to revoke visa-free entry for citizens of over 30 countries, including the United States, Britain and several European nations.
"We encourage all travelers, as well as travel agencies and relevant industries, to familiarize themselves with the updated visa policies and requirements, accessible on the Ministry's website and e-services portal," he said. ■
