The recent ministerial meeting has made significant progress towards the adoption of the SADC UniVisa project.

Although the date and venue for the launch are yet to be made public, NBC News is reliably informed that the project is moving towards consideration by Heads of State sooner rather than later.

In an interview with NBC News on the sidelines of the ongoing Tourism and Hospitality Expo in Francistown, Botswana's Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi, said the region has moved closer to adopting the project.

UniVisa is a common tourist visa that would simplify travel across the region's 16 member states, as the region seeks to work hand in glove in collectively promoting regional tourism.

"We have realised that it is becoming difficult for other countries to obtain a visa for Botswana, a visa for Zimbabwe, and a visa for Zambia. And therefore, that is why we are looking at exploring the idea of getting an SADC UniVisa so that when you want to go to southern Africa, you only know you want one visa."

The SADC UniVisa project echoes momentum already seen on a smaller scale with the Kavango-Zambezi UniVisa, which currently allows eligible travellers to visit Zambia and Zimbabwe with a single visa and the option of taking day trips to Botswana through certain border points.

Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Angola have been selected to pilot the new SADC Tourism UniVisa to streamline travel and promote tourism within the region.