ISTANBUL, Türkiye — Uganda has intensified efforts to attract more Turkish visitors and investors by showcasing its tourism potential to more than 400 travel industry stakeholders during successful tourism roadshows held in Gaziantep and Istanbul.
The Explore Uganda Tourism Roadshows, organised by the Uganda Embassy in Ankara in partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and selected Ugandan tour and travel companies, took place in Gaziantep on June 16 and Istanbul on June 18, 2026.
The initiative forms part of Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy, which seeks to leverage international partnerships to boost tourism, trade and investment while positioning Uganda as a preferred destination in emerging tourism markets.
Speaking from Istanbul, Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, H.E. Nusura Tiperu, said each event attracted more than 200 participants, including Turkish tour operators, travel agents, tourism investors, influencers, media representatives and tourism enthusiasts.
“The strong turnout demonstrates growing interest among Turkish travellers and tourism stakeholders in Uganda’s unique attractions and tourism experiences,” Ambassador Tiperu said.
The roadshows followed a Familiarisation (FAM) Trip to Uganda undertaken by Turkish tour operators between April 25 and May 2, 2026. The visit provided participants with firsthand experience of Uganda’s tourism offerings and was intended to encourage the development of travel packages and commercial partnerships between operators in both countries.
Ambassador Tiperu emphasised that tourism remains an important pillar of relations between Uganda and Türkiye and noted that the roadshows support the implementation of the 2016 Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism signed by the two countries.
She reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to promoting Destination Uganda and strengthening collaboration between tourism stakeholders in both markets.
A key feature of the events was a series of Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements that brought together Ugandan and Turkish tour operators to explore partnerships, exchange market insights, and identify opportunities for expanding tourism business between the two countries.
Representing the Uganda Tourism Board, Marketing Manager Francis Nyende highlighted Uganda’s diverse tourism attractions, including mountain gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, birdwatching, adventure tourism, cultural heritage experiences and the country’s global tourism brand, “Explore Uganda – The Pearl of Africa.”
The roadshows also attracted support from Turkish tourism industry leaders. Hüseyin Kurt, Managing Director of GlobeMeets International Tourism Marketing Company, underscored the vast potential of Türkiye’s outbound tourism market and pledged support for Uganda’s efforts to establish itself as one of Africa’s premier tourism destinations.
He expressed confidence that Uganda’s unique tourism products and experiences would resonate strongly with Turkish travellers seeking authentic travel destinations.
Attendees also heard testimonials from Turkish tourism professionals who have previously visited Uganda. Among them was renowned travel influencer Çağatay Özdemir, who commands more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram.
Sharing his experiences, Özdemir described Uganda as a destination offering authentic cultural and experiential tourism opportunities. He singled out mountain gorilla trekking as the highlight of his visit and encouraged Turkish travellers to consider Uganda for future holidays.
“Uganda offers stunning landscapes, extraordinary wildlife, warm hospitality and rich cultural experiences that make it unlike any other destination,” he said.
The Istanbul roadshow concluded on a high note with a raffle draw organised in partnership with Turkish Airlines, during which two participants won return air tickets to Uganda.
The initiative generated excitement among attendees and further strengthened cooperation between Uganda’s tourism promotion agencies and private-sector partners. The winners expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to visit Uganda and experience its renowned attractions firsthand.
Tourism officials believe the successful roadshows will significantly raise Uganda’s profile within the Turkish market, strengthen commercial partnerships between tourism operators in both countries and contribute to increased visitor arrivals from Türkiye in the coming years.
With growing international interest and sustained marketing efforts, Uganda hopes to position itself as one of Africa’s most attractive tourism destinations while expanding its footprint in key global travel markets.
