Kampala, Uganda – September 30, 2019. Team Uganda comprising of 18 tour operators and led by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is set to showcase Uganda’ tourism offerings at the 8th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) to be held from the 2nd -4th October 2019, at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The annual expo will attract over 170 exhibitors and 180 hosted buyers registered from 20 countries around the World; offering an attractive platform for Uganda to showcase.
Uganda will this year showcase Adventure, Golf Tourism and Nightlife under the theme; “Uganda: The adventure capital of East Africa.”Commenting Uganda’s participation, UTB Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Ajarova said,
“This is a very good opportunity for Uganda to tap into various operators and visitors from Kenya and across the world. We shall have the opportunity to showcase to a varied group trade buyers and ensure that our tour operators get business as they sellUganda.
She added; “UTB will conduct destination training for 50 key expatriate communities living in Kenya, government officials and Kenya Tour Operators. As part of our strategy to work with foreign missions, we shall also train embassy officials at the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi on how to market Uganda’s tourism at their various platforms.”
Kenya remains Uganda’s biggest source market for tourists in the region accounting for 29% of total tourism arrivals registered in 2018. African land markets (regional and neighboring countries) that entered Uganda by road makeup 69% of Uganda’s international arrivals, and grew by 6.1% in 2018.
2018 Tourism Arrivals
In terms of arrivals, Uganda’s international tourism performance in 2018 was above the rate of continental and global tourism growth. Tourists from international air accounted for approximately 31% of the total international tourist arrivals to Uganda in 2018, growing by10.2% compared to the previous year. Growth was recorded from Europe (+13.8%), the Americas (+9.2%), Asia (+10.2%) and the Middle East (+9.7%) in 2018. Uganda witnessed a 7.4% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2018, growing from 1,402,409 in 2017 to 1,506,669 in 2018. Direct revenue from international tourism rose to US$1.6 billion in 2018, compared to US$1.453 billion in 2017.
ABOUT MAGICAL KENYA TRAVEL EXPO (MKTE)
The Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) is an annual, high profile international tourism Exhibition that attracts participation from both Local and international trade partners as well as the Kenyan public. The expo brings together all the tour operators, travel agents, and destination managers of the specific companies and provides a unique opportunity for the tourism business operators to meet their clients, network, and market and discuss business.
ABOUT UGANDA TOURISM BOARD
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is a statutory organization established in 1994. Its role and mandate were reviewed in the Tourism Act of 2008. The Board’s mandate is to promote and market Uganda across the region and internationally, promote quality assurance in tourist facilities through training, grading, and classification, promote tourism investment, support and act as a liaison for the private sector in tourism development. The broader goals of the Board are to increase the contribution of tourism earnings and GDP; improve Uganda’s competitiveness as an international tourism destination, and increase Uganda’s share of Africa’s and World tourism market. UTB aims to create inclusive opportunities for the tourism sector through market transformation.
ABOUT UGANDA
Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is located in East Africa and offers some of the continent’s most diverse wildlife viewing, dramatic landscapes, and immersive cultural experiences and warm people and hospitality. Uganda is home to more than half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, and trekking to observe these gentle giants in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the world’s top bucket list travel activities. Safari
opportunities abound in savanna, forest, and wetland settings throughout 10 national parks, where visitors can come face to face with “The Big Five” – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and
buffalo – as well as giraffe, zebra, chimpanzee, hippopotamus, crocodile, and more than half of all bird species found in Africa. Among Uganda’s extraordinary natural attractions are the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains; expansive Lake Victoria, which forms the source of the Nile River; and Murchison Falls National Park. For more information, please visit; www.visituganda.com
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