The Government of Uganda and Kenya will In November, 2024, host the 3rd Uganda- Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, which will feature an exhibition, excursions, and a familiarization (fam) trip.
This year’s event, scheduled for November 9-18, 2024, will be hosted in Uganda.
Organized by the Consulate General of Uganda in Mombasa in collaboration with tourism stakeholders from Uganda and the Kenyan coast, the conference aims to consolidate networks, synergies, and diversity to maximize tourism potential between Uganda and Kenya’s coastal region.
The event will include excursions at the Kenya Coast and a fam trip to Uganda, along with business-to-business sessions to facilitate interaction among participants from both countries.
Expected outcomes of the conference include increased tourist arrivals, investments in the tourism sectors, joint tourism packages, and increased traffic on the Entebbe-Mombasa route operated by Uganda Airlines.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, emphasized the importance of familiarizing tourism players with the products they promote.
He noted, “one cannot sell a product they do not know,” highlighting the significance of the conference and fam trips in promoting complementary tourism packages.
“The Kenyan market is very important to Uganda, just as Uganda is to Kenya. How do we tap into these two markets?” Mukumbya questioned. He explained that regional tourism growth hinges on leveraging each other’s strengths and developments.
“The concept behind the Uganda – Kenya Coast partnership is to promote complementarity between tourism products in Uganda and at the Kenya Coast,” he said.
“While Uganda boasts mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, cultural and religious tourism, and vibrant nightlife in Kampala, the Kenya Coast offers beautiful beaches, marine tourism, and historical sites. Both countries can work together without necessarily competing to promote tourism.”
Ambassador Joash Maangi, Kenyan High Commissioner to Uganda, called for more meaningful partnerships and collaborations between industry players from both countries.
Maangi highlighted the benefits both countries have reaped from the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, Exhibition, Excursions, and Fam trips, citing numerous positive testimonials from operators. He expressed optimism about the impact of the upcoming conference on the tourism industry in both countries.
Pearl Kakooza, Board Chairperson of the Uganda Tourism Board, stated that the conference is a key strategy for developing the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector in Uganda.
“This event is being brought to Uganda on a silver platter,” she said, pledging UTB’s support and promising to leverage their strengths and expertise to offer the best tourism experience to visitors.
Stephen Asiimwe, CEO of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) , called on private sector members to capitalize on the conference and fam trips for business opportunities. “This is an opportunity for making money. This is not like other conferences; it’s time to make money,” he said.
Additionally, the organizers, in collaboration with the Uganda Golf Union and the Kenya Golf Federation, announced that the 2nd Uganda-Kenya Coast Open Golf Tournament will take place on November 9, 2024, at the Kampala Golf Club.
This tournament will precede the 3rd Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, starting on November 10, 2024, in Kampala. It will feature golfers from Uganda and across Kenya, with an expectation that golfers will extend their stays even after the tournament.
The previous conference in Diani saw attendance from over 500 participants, including 200 from Uganda.
A survey conducted after the event indicated that Ugandan participants engaged in 1,860 business-to-business meetings, with some already initiating business collaborations with their Kenyan counterparts.
Tourist numbers between the two countries are on the rise. According to the Kenya Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report 2023, the number of Ugandans visiting Kenya increased from 150,000 in 2022 to 201,620 in 2023, making Uganda the second-largest source market for Kenya after the United States. Similarly, 490,000 Kenyans visited Uganda in 2023, making Kenya the largest source market for Uganda.
