The Government of Uganda has welcomed a high-level delegation of leading digital influencers and tour operators from the Republic of Türkiye for a week-long Familiarization (FAM) Trip aimed at showcasing Uganda’s unique tourism experiences and positioning the country as a preferred destination for the Turkish travel market.
The FAM Trip is organised by the Embassy of Uganda in Ankara. Hüseyin Kurt, speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation appreciated the opportunity to visit Uganda and witness first-hand the diverse tourist attractions.
He was optimistic that their visit would empower them to effectively market the destination to their clients and contribute to increasing the number of arrivals from Türkiye.
Mehmet Fatih Ak, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Kampala expressed happiness with the growing people-to-people exchanges.
He informed that Türkiye hosted 61 million tourists last year generating US$ 62bn, underscoring the importance of Tourism to the Turkish economy and their willingness to share experiences.
He noted Uganda was a beautiful, politically stable and secure country, with great potential to increase tourism receipts. “The newly launched direct flights by Turkish Airlines to Entebbe present additional advantages in promoting the destination,” he added.
Nusura Tiperu, the Ambassador of Uganda to Türkiye, emphasised the significance of the initiative in strengthening bilateral relations through tourism and cultural exchange.
“These are not just travellers—they are storytellers and digital bridge-builders who have the power to connect Uganda to millions of people across Türkiye and beyond. Through their platforms, the world will witness Uganda’s authenticity, biodiversity, and hospitality,” the Ambassador remarked.
The influencers, comprising photographers, travel content creators, vloggers, and lifestyle ambassadors, will commence an immersive journey through Uganda’s iconic tourism attractions, including Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for Mountain Gorilla trekking, and the vibrant culture of Kampala.
Lily Ajarova, Senior Presidential Advisor on Tourism, lauded the partnership between the Ministry, the Embassy of Uganda in Ankara, Uganda Tourism Board and the private sector.
“This Familiarisation Trip is part of our broader strategy to diversify our source markets and unlock new pathways for tourism-led investment and growth. Türkiye presents immense potential, and we are delighted to host this influential delegation,” she stated.
Ajarova noted that the collaboration with the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara, supported by Uganda’s local tourism stakeholders, is an important milestone.
“We are deliberately pursuing new source markets and Türkiye, with its dynamic population, cultural appreciation, and growing outbound tourism, presents a significant opportunity,” she said.
During their stay, the influencers will engage in a range of curated activities including game drives, cultural experiences, gorilla trekking, culinary exploration, and Business conferencing to understand the needs of the Türkiye market, and networking with Ugandan tourism stakeholders. The trip is expected to generate impactful digital content that will significantly elevate Uganda’s visibility in the Turkish and wider Eurasian markets.
This FAM trip follows successful tourism road shows organized by the Embassy last month in different cities of Türkiye-Mersin, Bursa and Istanbul. These initiatives are aligned with Uganda’s vision to grow its tourism sector into a key driver of economic transformation, job creation, and sustainable development.