President Paul Kagame of Rwanda on Thursday, unveiled a new policy allowing visa-free travel to Rwanda for Africans.

This move positions Rwanda as the latest African nation to adopt such measures, with the goal of promoting the free movement of people and trade, in a bid to rival Europe's Schengen zone.

The President made this announcement in Kigali, emphasizing the potential for Africa to become a unified tourism destination. Currently, Africa relies on 60% of its tourists from outside the continent, as reported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

“Any African, can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country,” said Kagame during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“We should not lose sight of our own continental market,” he said. “Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come.”

Upon implementation, Rwanda will join the ranks of African countries that have lifted travel restrictions for Africans. Currently, Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles have already waived visas for African nationals. In addition, Kenya's President William Ruto recently revealed plans to enable visa-free travel for all Africans to Kenya by December 31.

“Visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against us. When people cannot travel, business people cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel we all become net losers” said Ruto at an international summit in Congo Brazzaville.

In 2016, the African Union launched the African passport with considerable enthusiasm, aiming to create a travel document that would parallel the European Union model and unlock the continent's potential. Nevertheless, thus far, only diplomats and AU officials have received this travel document.