Uganda is seeking partnership that will see the Pearl of Africa tap into the big number of visitors to Kenya’s coastal towns and the respective beaches on the coast.

Every year thousands of visitors, especially from Europe, America and beyond visit the Kenyan coast to enjoy various tourism products including the historical Fort Jesus, beaches, resorts, marine national parks, elephant sanctuary, the dolphins, slave caves, sacred forests , Vasco Da Gama Fort, white sands, coral reefs , diving and snorkeling among others.

However, most of these visitors end normally end their trips at the Kenyan coast yet there are many other completely different attractions in Uganda that would sway them to visit in a bid to have fulfilling experiences.

For example, adventure tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism are so much rooted in Uganda and can attract a large number of tourists as well as the unique safaris, mountain gorillas rare tree climbing lions and the over 1063 bird species to the country which is also the source of the Nile, the world’s longest river.

In 2021, Uganda registered 512945 tourism arrivals, 326387 of which, translating into 63.63% being from Kenya .

To harness the opportunities, Uganda’s Consulate in Mombasa has organized the first Uganda Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and exhibition set for November 20 to 27 both in Mombasa and in Uganda.

According to Amb.Paul Mukumbya, Uganda’s Consulat General in Mombasa, both countries can benefit from tourist arrivals to each country.

“Uganda has completely different tourism products from Kenya and yet there are so many travelers who come to the coast. Many of them are retirees who come and spend two to three weeks at the coast and have a lot of money but come back every year to see the same things. We thought that it was high time we created partnerships between the tourism sectors of Kenya and Uganda,” Amb.Mukumbya said.

He explained that the partnership facilitated by both governments will be between the private tours operators of Kenya and Uganda so as to work together to market each other’s tourism products.

“They can create networks and synergies because the tourism products will be complementary so much that when they get to the coast, you can come up with packages marketed together. Someone who has been at the coast can be convinced to come to Uganda to see the mountain gorillas which are not at the coast, source of the Nile, rafting, the beautiful night life of Kampala, Namugongo and so many other products here.”

Amb. Mukumbya said by jointly marketing the products, the two countries will benefit mutually from each other by ensuring tourists get more value for their money but also governments benefit.

Banking on Uganda Airlines that flies to Mombasa three times a week, the Consulate General in Mombasa said apart from easing connections between Entebbe and Mombasa, this will be another avenue to bring business for Uganda’s national carrier.

Private Sector Foundation Uganda Executive Director, Stephen Asiimwe described the initiative as one that would greatly benefit the private sector in Uganda but also tourism at large in the region.

“Tourism is one of our key strategic business portfolios that before Covid, it was Uganda’s number one foreign exchange earner bringing in 10% of the GDP but also employing thousands of people. This initiative has come in at the right time and will enable more Kenyans come into Uganda not into competition but to complement each other,” Asiimwe said.

Describing Uganda as the primate capital of the world, home to the largest constituency of birds in Africa, home to snowcapped Rwenzori Mountain, Asiimwe said it is only befitting that tourists to the coastal towns of Kenya visit the country christened the Pearl of Africa due to its immense beauty.

“The Mombasa and coastal area is the second largest economic zone in Kenya and we have seen more of those residents in Kenya go more to Middle East but we would like more of them to come here.”

The Uganda Tourism Association president, Herbert Byaruhanga says the initiative will greatly benefit both countries.

“Tour guides, hoteliers, operators and all involved will greatly benefit both in Kenya and Uganda. While the coastal region has a lot of things, there are many others they don’t have and can be found in Uganda.”

The state minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem said the initiative will help to also encourage Ugandans and Kenyans visit their respective neighbouring countries.

“Ugandans will start saving their money so as to a nice holiday in Mombasa and the same will be for Kenyans to enjoy beautiful experiences in Kidepo national park. These will go back to their respective countries to inspire others. This initiative will help market the region and its tourism opportunities as one destination. If we package this thing properly, tourists will come from both countries. The two countries have distinct opportunities.”

According to Amb.Paul Mukumbya, Uganda’s Consulat General in Mombasa, as part of the initiative, participants will tour Mombasa City and the respective coastal tourist attractions before the conference and exhibition on November 17 followed by sightseeing on November 18 and 19.

There will then be a familiarization trip to Uganda between November20 and 27 led by the Consulate General and the Uganda Tourism Association to visit the various tourism sites.

Tour operators from both countries will be part of the trips.

Source: All Africa

Travel demand is increasing rapidly after two years of limited opportunities due to the pandemic. Today, people are dreaming big and want to build experiential journeys that inspire lifelong memories. Before the world knew of COVID-19, destination management organizations (DMOs) such as Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) were seeking opportunities to create awareness for its city and capture the attention of travelers.

With this in mind, DET has renewed its digital media partnership with Amadeus to continue to leverage the power of Amadeus’ business intelligence solutions and media services on its travel advertising platform. This will pave the way for the delivery of custom, omni-channel marketing campaigns powered by the hospitality industry’s most comprehensive business intelligence data.

The partnership has enabled DET to measure success and gain further insights into traveler intention and patterns with remarkable results. To date, the advertising campaigns have driven more than 1 million bookings since early 2020, even during pandemic uncertainty.

Understanding the changing market dynamics and the need to stay ahead of shifting marketing trends, the Amadeus team has continued to enhance the technology used to deliver tailored marketing campaigns for destinations. Most recently, the team has improved machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities with a growing and diverse set of insights across hotels, airlines, metasearch, and online travel agencies. The predictive analytics enhanced with this rich data over time enable the algorithms to become smarter and deliver continually improving results that meet, and often exceed, customer goals.

“Enabling our customers to understand how to bring more travelers to their destination is a key aspect of supporting industry recovery,” said Scott Falconer, Executive Vice President, Media Solutions, Hospitality, Amadeus. “Our ongoing relationship with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism is a testament to the power of our media offering. The depth of our market insight is unmatched in the industry and we’re pleased to work with leading destination management organizations such as DET to demonstrate the effectiveness of data-driven, innovative advertising technology to deliver high performing media campaigns.”

Source: Hospitalitynet

Kenya Airways will be split into various subsidiaries in a State-backed restructuring plan that is aimed at returning the lossmaking national carrier to profitability.

Roads, Transport and Public Works Cabinet Secretary nominee Kipchumba Murkomen told a parliamentary vetting panel Wednesday that the reforms will lead to the breaking of Kenya Airways along its main business lines of cargo and passenger.

Its other subsidiaries envisaged by the new administration are charter services and new businesses like drone services.

Mr Murkomen said President William Ruto was working with Kenya Airways and other players to restructure the airline and return it to profitability.

The fresh restructuring plan comes after the State dropped the favoured long-term solution that was anchored on nationalisation of the airline.

The plan approved by lawmakers in July 2019 would have led to the delisting of the airline from the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

The national carrier has received multi-billion shilling State bailouts amid delayed recovery from a travel slump following Covid-19.

Mr Murkomen told MPs that Nairobi is the leading cargo destination in the region yet KQ, as it is known by its international code, controls only 10 percent of cargo market share.

“We need to separate cargo from passenger services so that KQ benefits from the business,” Mr Murkomen said.

“We intend to create subsidiaries in KQ. We need to have a passenger airline, cargo airline and charter airline. We might also need KQ to have other businesses on the side like drone services and surveying services as one way of raising revenue,” he added.

He did not offer details how the breakup of KQ will help turn around the carrier that has been in losses for over a decade. KQ’s main business lines—cargo, passenger and handling—are all in losses. Passenger service returned an operating loss of Sh4.5 billion, cargo Sh1.74 billion and handling Sh166 million.

This marks a departure from the Treasury’s earlier position to pursue a turnaround under the plan to nationalise KQ. A law to pave the way for the nationalisation of the airline, which had been proposed before the pandemic, is before Parliament.

Kenya wanted to emulate countries like Ethiopia which run air transport assets — from airports to fuelling operations —under a single company, using funds from the more profitable parts to support others.

Under the model approved by MPs, KQ would become one of four subsidiaries in an aviation holding company.

The others would be Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, an aviation college and the Kenya Airports Authority operating all other airports.

The previous administration, which was replaced by Dr Ruto’s on September 13, pushed for the restructuring of the carrier on the back of the multi-billion-shilling bailout after dropping the nationalisation plan.

Mr Murkomen Wednesday told Parliament that the State would not convert its debts or bailout cash into shares. “We do not want to cross the 50 percent shareholding because we want KQ to remain a privately owned company,” he said. The government owns 48.9 percent of KQ shares.

“We have to ask ourselves why KQ is in the situation it is currently. It is because of mismanagement of project Mawingu, but there is a restructuring process currently underway led by President Ruto,” he said.

KQ recorded a ninth consecutive half-year loss, sinking it Sh15 billion deeper into a negative equity position.

The airline, which has been surviving on State bailouts since the Covid-19 pandemic, reported a Sh9.8 billion loss in August — a better performance than the Sh11.48 billion loss it recorded in the same period a year earlier.

It booked a further Sh5.3 billion loss on hedged foreign exchange differences, driving its total comprehensive loss to Sh14.9 billion.

Source: Business Daily

It was an evening marked by colour, glamour and pomp as Nairobi played the host to the World Travel Awards (WTA) Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2022.

The annual event saw 400 leading travel industry individuals and decision-makers drawn from 25 African and Indian Ocean countries drop business attire for ritzy evening gowns and dapper tuxedos as they attended the red-carpet gala held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on October 15.

The WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

The KICC chief executive, Nana Gecaga, said Kenyans were thrilled to showcase their world-renowned culture and hospitality during the gala ceremony as well as ensure guests have an unforgettable magical experience.

25 Kenyan nominees emerged as winners.

The Port of Mombasa bagged Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2022.

The national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) scored a hat-trick emerging as Africa’s Leading Airline 2022, Africa’s Leading Airline-Business Class 2022, Africa’s Leading Airline Brand 2022. Jambojet, KQ’s offshoot, was named Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline 2022.

Other notable Kenya winners included Manda Bay (Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort), The Residences at Leopard Beach Resort and Spa (Africa’s Leading Hotel Residences 2022), Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Africa’s Leading Conservation Company 2022) and Sirai House (Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa 2022).

On the domestic front, 23 winners were crowned in their respective categories. They included: Kinondo Kwetu (Kenya’s Leading Resort 2022), Porini Mara Camp (Kenya’s Leading Tented Safari Camp 2022), and The Social House (Kenya’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2022) among others.

Founder of WTA, Graham Cooke said he was honoured to come back to Nairobi after KICC hosted the 2020 edition.

“Nairobi is a pulsating city, rich in heritage but with a dynamic, forward-thinking business focus. As the industry bounces back better and stronger, Kenya should take its place at the high table of world-class tourism destinations”.,” he said.

WTA gala ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders. The next red-carpet events on the WTA Grand Tour 2022 will take place in Amman, Jordan (Middle East) followed by Muscat, Oman (Grand Final).

Source: Business Daily

Wooing spoilt-for-choice travelers to visit a particular destination may be an uphill task, but the road gets much smoother if you have a celebrity vouching for its wonders.

You might be forgiven for thinking it to be a Hollywood romantic comedy. Zac Effron and Jessica Alba get their suitcases mixed up, and the search for the right bag leads to them finding each other, all heart eyes as the dust of the Dubai desert swirls around them.

Except, this “A Romance to Remember” is a promotional film commissioned by Dubai Tourism to get you to fall in love with the city.

Celebrity endorsements deliver strong triggers in the decision-making process for travelers, and tourism entities in the Middle East know that well.

Think, the many celebrity brand ambassadors for Dubai, John Cena for Abu Dhabi, Jennifer Aniston and Chris Hemsworth for Emirates Airlines, Nicole Kidman for Etihad Airways and the latest entrant on the field, David Beckham for Qatar.

Celebrity endorsements help a destination to highlight a tourism product that it may not be known for, announce a change or transition and also shine a light on the place for a new market, according to Danny Cohanpour, CEO and founder of Trove Tourism Development Advisors.

For instance, the Abu Dhabi campaign with John Cena last year helped to promote international sporting events in the city while also using it as an opportunity to announce that borders were re-opening for vaccinated international travelers.

However, while celebrities can influence the decision-making process, trust can only follow from how brands invest in building, delivering and sustaining the promised experience, noted Abdul Samee Qureshi, managing director at The Adroit Agency.

Once destinations have gone past the general awareness and created the first inbound traffic, they need to establish credibility, and that trust is reinforced by people coming back to the destination.

Even Popular Destinations Need Celebrities to Market Them

Any brand — including a destination — cannot rest on its laurels even if it is doing well or is popular, said Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), calling celebrity endorsements one of the elements of a much more diverse and intertangled marketing matrix that a destination employs.

When working with celebrities a destination like Dubai doesn’t just consider their status in isolation, noted Kazim. “We start with the idea and concept, then make sure the campaign is aligned to the objectives and has clear outcomes. Only then will we decide if the celebrity route works for us, and which one/s would be the best partners.”

In the early stages, brands often use ambassadors with a wide following. One of the most popular examples being Nespresso signing on George Clooney as brand ambassador in 2006.

Drawing comparisons, Nicolas Mayer, global tourism industry leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), explained that when Switzerland wanted to activate the Indian market, it tapped Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh to promote the destination — a logical choice considering the popularity of mainstream Hindi cinema among Indians as well as in large parts of South Asia.

The Right Message for the Right Audience

As long as the message created with the celebrity is relevant to the target audience, it seems to do the trick, opined Qureshi. “One of the key markets where the United Arab Emirates delivers exceptionally well is engaging celebrities from India and the outcome can be seen as India has been one of the biggest inbound markets for many years.”

India has consistently remained a top source market for Dubai. The emirate welcomed 7.12 million overnight visitors from January to June this year, of which the highest number of international guests were from India at 858,000 visitors.

One of the most popular Indian actors — Shah Rukh Khan has been the brand ambassador for Dubai tourism since 2016. Dubai tourism’s Kazim acknowledged that the choice of Khan is an indication of how important India is as a source market for the emirate.

In the past too, Dubai has worked on many marketing campaigns featuring prominent regional celebrities as well as influencers.

The celebrity mantra seems to work well for brands on either end of the spectrum. While some tourism boards may be very popular, they are looking to attract more tourists and may not even be halfway to where they would want to go. And then there may be many untapped geographical pockets, where destinations would want to be better known, according to PwC’s Mayer.

Tapping Niche Markets

Destinations also use celebrities to promote sub-segments. Tourism boards usually tap prominent names from a specific field to promote a particular event or occasion, with the expectation that these campaigns would be watched by people sharing similar interests.

A perfect example of that would be David Beckham for Qatar. Beckham would not only help Qatar to activate the UK market but would also help deliver the message of football to fans of the game as Qatar will be hosting the football World Cup later this year.

“With this, Qatar would be surgically targeting general football fans as well as travelers in the UK,” said Mayer.

While celebrity endorsements offer a substantial reach, running a parallel micro-influencer campaign can convert online visitors into actual visitors, opined Cohanpour. “Destinations must simultaneously leverage micro-influencers with proven experience with a direct and engaged audience on social media.”

Dubai tourism also works with influencers across the spectrum — from prominent names down to a micro-influencer, who may have a specific niche impact, said Kazim.

This is, however, just one string in the bow. As Kazim explained, “We have to map every channel of influence by market, audience, segment, time and point of the conversion funnel and build a marketing strategy tapestry from there.”

If it has a credible offering, a destination can find its audience through social media, according to Mayer. “The catalogue is dead and social media allows brands to identify and reach their target clients faster in the promotional awareness phase. The results too are instant and any correction that needs to be done can be done much faster.”

Source: Skift

Africa’s beleaguered airline industry could return to profit at the end of 2024, although regulatory uncertainty and higher fuel prices pose critical challenges, senior aviation officials said at an annual industry meeting on Friday.

Internal air travel in Africa has long been fragmented due to poor infrastructure and connectivity, as travellers moving from one country to another are often forced to visit a third destination outside the continent as part of their journey.

Those problems were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as national airlines sought government bailouts while others were liquidated when passenger seats plummeted during strict lockdowns.

Kamil Alawadhi, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said market access and connectivity issues were delaying the recovery of southern Africa’s lucrative long-haul destinations, hampering foreign tourism and trade.

“What the numbers describe is the impact of several carriers’ exits from the market and the harmful distorting effects of an out-dated regulatory framework of bilateral air service agreements between governments, that restrict expansion and market access,” Alawadhi said in prepared remarks for delivery at the Airlines Association of Southern Africa’s annual general assembly.

“Today, in Southern Africa’s case, with the exception of Angola, the absence of local inter-continental operators from routes they have been designated, is causing particular pain as it has left many markets under-served,” he said.

The meeting takes place as company executives and airline agencies plot a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated global passenger and cargo transport. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also affected global fuel prices and led to shortages of jet fuel across Africa.

According to Alawadhi’s prepared speech, southern Africa’s airline capacity is still 32.7% below 2019 levels. Eastern Africa is 6.4% below pre-pandemic levels while other African regions are now 3.2%-3.8% above 2019 traffic levels.

“IATA’s current outlook sees the global loss reduced to $9.7 billion for 2022 and a return to industry-wide profit in 2023. Africa is on track to follow by the end of 2024,” Alawadhi said.

According to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), data showed that by last month, African countries had resumed operations to 99.2% of routes operated before the pandemic.

Rising fuel prices pose a fresh challenge, however, said Abderahmane Berthe, secretary general of AFRAA.

Fuel represents around a third of African airline operator costs, he said, adding that the steep rise of global fuel prices to an estimated average of $142 a barrel this year from $78 a barrel in 2021 will hurt the sector’s financial recovery.

“One of the consequences we are seeing today is the increase in ticket fares … tickets are more expensive and this is not good for the development of air transport in Africa,” Berthe said.

Source: Reuters

Driving overseas can be a daunting experience and being unaware of different countries’ rules could easily land a driver in trouble.

According to holiday car rental experts, StressFreeCarRental.com, it’s very easy for people to forget that different countries may have uncommon rules when it comes to the road.

Some of the rules are simply common knowledge, but other laws may come across as quite unusual for road users.

According to StressFreeCarRental’s research, here are seven unique driving laws from around the world.

While countries like the UK are stricter when it comes to this matter, road users in South Africa don’t need to purchase insurance when driving a car.

Despite insurance not being mandatory, many advise drivers to get insurance anyway in case they have an accident.

Dubai: Camels come first

Camels are considered important symbols in Dubai and are highly respected in traffic laws in the UAE. If a camel is spotted on the road, always give it the right of way.

US: You can turn right at a red robot if the road is clear

Even though drivers don’t have the right of way, most US cities allow drivers to turn right at a red robot if there are no other vehicles around. However, this rule does not apply to New York City as it’s banned unless stated otherwise on a road sign. This driving rule can save travellers in the US a lot of time.

UK: You can’t use your phone to pay at the drive-through

Many drivers in the UK are unaware of the recent crackdown on using phones, which can result in a fine or penalties on your licence. It’s always best to bring a contactless card when paying for fast food, or you can simply turn off the engine when paying.

Canada: You must hoot when passing Prince Edward Island

It’s one of the most famous laws about Prince Edward Island. It’s very unlikely you’ll get charged for not honking, but it’s always best to say safe and press the hooter when passing another vehicle.

India: Don’t drive without a pollution control certificate

To help the impact of air pollution, drivers in India must have a pollution control certificate to show that their vehicle is environmentally safe to drive. If you don’t provide a certificate, it could lead to a hefty fine.

Australia: Haven’t locked your car? You’ll get a fine

In most parts of Australia, it is legally an offence to leave the car unlocked, so it’s vital to triple check the car is locked when driving in Australia.

Source: IOL

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says it will introduce an ‘online traveller declaration system’ that all travellers need to comply with.

The new system will simplify passenger movement at South African airports, SARS said, and will come into effect from 1 November 2022.

The system aims to collect travel information and, in return, grants a traveller pass via email, said SARS.

It requires that all travellers – including South African citizens and residents, children and infants – leaving or entering South Africa by air complete the declaration. SARS said that once completed and submitted, travellers will receive a pass before they board.

The new online system will be rolled out in all South African international airports, starting with OR Tambo International Airport from 1 November, and then to others in the first quarter of 2023, the revenue service said.

“Upon arrival in South Africa, there will be instructions at the airports that will guide and inform travellers what to do next,” it said.

Currently, in terms of the declaration of goods at the airport, all people who arrive in the country are required to complete a Traveller Card (TC-01) if they have something to declare – the card is then used alongside your passport in the customs process.

Some goods that are required to be declared include things such as:

• Products purchased or acquired abroad
• Goods remodelled or repaired abroad
• Anything prohibited or restricted, or controlled under any law

When departing from South Africa, residents are further required by SARS to register valuables before their trip – this can be done at the customs office in international departures before handing luggage in.

However, tourists to South Africa can reclaim Value-Added Tax (VAT) on the goods bought during their visit to the country, added SARS.

SARS has been beefing up its tax policy and working with other institutions to ensure stricter compliance with tax law. The latest Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) annual report showed that over R41.6 million in penalties was imposed by SARS on certain people and businesses over 2021 – many of which were instances of non-compliance.

SARS has a history of keeping tabs on taxpayers. In mid-September, Tax Consulting SA noted that the taxman can track a person’s flights as part of stricter emigration processes.

Nikolas Skafidas, a tax expert from the group said that expatriate taxpayers awaiting approval for their non-resident status might have their flights tracked into and out of South Africa by the tax authority.

He said that flight details could possibly be used by SARS when questioning the validity of an applicant’s claim that they intend to reside outside of South Africa permanently.

Source: Business Tech

The new UAE visa rules that came into effect on October 3 allow holidaymakers to stay for 60 days at a time.

The decision to make all entry visas valid for 60 days from the date of issue ― double the previous allowance ― is one of a series of visa changes that were approved by the Cabinet in April.

Previously, there was no specific visa for tourists and those wishing to visit the UAE applied for 30-day, 60-day or 90-day visit visas.

The one, two and three-month entry permits are still available on a new visa, but mainly for people wishing to visit friends or relatives in the country, which requires documentary evidence proving the relationship and reasons for the visit.

All entry visas are available for single or multiple entry and can be renewed for a further 60 days.

Roshan Davis, manager of Golden Talent Tourism Agency in Dubai, said the change has made it easier for tourists to spend extended time in the country exploring and enjoying everything it has to offer.

“We have received more than 50 tourist visa applications from customers in the past four days,” he said.

Who is the tourist visa for?

Those who do not qualify for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry to the UAE can apply for a tourist visa.

Citizens from 69 countries and states are eligible for a visa on arrival in the UAE. Females below the age of 18 are not eligible to apply for a tourist visa unless they are travelling with their parents.

How can I apply for a tourist visa?

Visitors from countries that do not have a visa-on-arrival arrangement with the UAE can apply for their visas in advance through a travel agency or through the airline with which they are travelling.

How much does the tourist visa cost?

Mr Davis said they charge between Dh550 and Dh600 for 60-day visas and between Dh350 and Dh750 for one, two and three-month visa requests for visiting relatives.

A 60-day single entry visa with Etihad Airways costs Dh650, while a similar visa from Emirates airline costs Dh697 ($190). Both airlines offer a shorter, 30-day visa priced at Dh350 for Etihad and Dh330 ($90) for Emirates.

Source: The National News

There is increased interest among Kenyan tour operators to venture into the Ugandan travel market, as Kenya’s tourism sector goes regional.

Every year thousands of Kenyans cross over to Uganda for both business and leisure tours, making Kenya one of the most reliable source markets for Uganda’s travel industry.

Already, a number of Kenyan travel companies have set up shop in the capital Kampala, as they hope to expand their operations.

Adventure tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism are the main attractions in Uganda, which is also the source of the Nile, the world’s longest river.

Notably, 75 percent of Uganda’s tourists are from African countries. Kenya, its eastern neighbour, accounts for 50 percent of all arrivals. In 2013, for example, more than 380,000 of the 1.2 million visitors to Uganda were Kenyan.

It was barely surprising then when more than 4,000 Kenyans crossed the border to attend the popular Nyege Nyege festival last week, the highest number of any nationality.

In Kampala’s vibrant nightlife, Kenyan revellers – including at Kenyan-owned clubs – are a common feature, partying the night away with their Ugandan counterparts.

To strengthen the destination’s appeal, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) last week hosted a group of Kenyan tour operators for a familiarisation tour of the country’s attractions, a visit that was also designed to provide business support and possible partnerships.

The visit by a host of Kenya’s leading tour operators, among them Hemingways Travel, Imagine Africa Tours, Gamewatchers Safaris, Muthaiga Travel, and Zaira Tours is the clearest demonstration yet of the growing interest in the Ugandan market by Kenyan companies.

The Kenyan delegation visited cultural centres and facilities such as Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Forest National parks. They also interacted with hotel owners and tour operators from Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda with the aim of boosting cross-border tourism.

Like Kenya, Uganda offers a wide array of flora and fauna to watch in its parks and sanctuaries. The dramatic landscape of hills and lakes adds to the thrill for travellers.

One the highlights in this destination is the rare experience of watching wild animals aboard a boat along Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometre stretch of water that enjoins lakes Edward and George at Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda.

Here, visitors can see hippos, crocodiles, pelicans, elephants and buffaloes that populate the park.

For the adrenaline adventure seekers, Uganda offers white water rafting experiences on the source of River Nile in Jinja.

‘‘Uganda may not have as many animals as Kenyan parks do, but we pride ourselves for having a population, however small, of each of the different animal species found across the region,’’ says Lilly Ajarova, the chief executive of UTB.

On why there is surging interest by Kenyan tour operators in the Ugandan tour market, Jackie Njambi, a travel consultant at Muthaiga Travel, explains: ‘‘They (operators) are now more aware that Uganda is one of the destinations not to miss out for their clientele, hence the rush to tap the market.’’

Whereas both Kenya and Uganda have similar biodiversity, chimpanzee and mountain gorilla tracking in the latter’s parks gives it an egde. ‘‘These are obvious attractions for many Kenyan clients,’’ says Ms Njambi.

Rashid Hussein, the CEO of Zaira Tours, says Kenyans travelling to Uganda constitute the bulk of his clients. And to seize this growing business opportunity, Hussein has recently had to expand his company’s operations to Uganda, by setting up an office in Kampala.

‘‘The business we receive for Uganda is overwhelming. Kenyans love adventure tours.’’

Then there is the scenery and food diversity, according to Eliud Oyalo, the product director at Imagine Africa Safaris. ‘‘Uganda has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the region,’’ he says.

Uganda’s geography is made up of 165 lakes, including fresh water lakes and crater lakes, constituting nine percent of Africa’s lakes – compared to only 64 in Kenya.

Kenyan travel consultants concur that the Ugandan domestic tourism sector remains largely untapped, describing the situation as a gap for new players in the market to fill.

Says Ms Njambi: ‘‘Generally, international tourism in Uganda has increased due to the greater impact of globalisation.’’

Yvonne Muteru, a travel consultant at Gamewatchers Safaris, describes Uganda as ‘‘one of the most unique natural, cultural and historical attractions in Africa and the world.’’

Her company also hosts pilgrimage tours. ‘‘With 45 million people and 52 indigenous tribes, Uganda has for years been a popular cultural destination. Performances at Ndere Cultural Centre in Kampala are a must-see for visitors,’’ she says.

Mr Oyalo agrees, adding that Uganda’s pilgrimage tourism and cultural heritage are unique.

‘‘The Namugongo Martyrs Shrine is an epicentre of religion. Most spiritual travellers who want to trace the journey of their faith visit Uganda and walk through the journey of the martyrs in their remembrance. We do not have this kind of experience in Kenya,’’ Oyalo says.

Indeed, records from UTB show that pilgrimage and apostolic tourism tours account for a significant number of travellers to Uganda.

Leading sites for religious tourism include Martyrs of Munyonyo Shrine, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Gadaffi Mosque and Baha’i Temple at the heart of Kampala.

The Namugongo Martyrs’ shrine, for instance, brings in visitors from around the world to learn and pay tribute to the martyrs, mostly teenage boys, who were butchered by Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda in the 1800s.

Mwanga II was a ruthless king who was opposed to entry of new religion in his kingdom. Converts of Islam, Christianity and other religions were tortured and burned alive.

There are also those like Ms Njambi who believe this market is friendlier to players. She explains: ‘‘Uganda has lower travel barriers compared to other key [regional] markets such as Kenya.’’

Even so, most top hotels in Uganda have only international rates, which most locals cannot afford, Mr Oyalo notes.

For the luxury traveller, Uganda has a host of premier hotels and lodges for boarding. These include Kyaninga Lodge (Sh140,000 per night), Trackers Safari Lodge (Sh160,000) and Bwindi Lodge that costs between $3,990 (Sh480,000) to $4,300 (Sh518,000) for three nights person.

‘‘There need to be separate rates for the East African market and for the international markets to boost numbers.’’

The director adds that designating seasons as high and low would allow budget tourists from the region to plan their travel to Uganda accordingly.

Through such collaborations, players in both markets are expected to design collective products and packages for tourists from across the region to explore, according to UTB.

‘‘As we position ourselves as the Pearl of Africa, there is the uniqueness in the different experiences and diversity that we offer to complement what the rest of the region offers,’’ says Ms Ajarova.

‘‘It is necessary that our markets work in a complementary arrangement. Uganda can supplement what Kenya does not have as we supplement when they lack. This way, we will be able to give our travellers a fulfilling experience.’’

One such experiences is the mountain gorilla tracking, an experience that Kenya does not have, says Mr Hussein. ‘‘Many Kenyans find it cheaper to do gorilla tracking here (Uganda) than having to travel to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which are farther.’’

The two Central African countries too offer gorilla tracking experiences, even though Uganda boasts the largest population of the primates. For tour operators such as Mr Hussein, this challenges the three destinations to develop ‘‘competitive packages, with travellers as the biggest beneficiaries.’’

The interest by Kenyan tour operators is also a product of aggressive promotional campaigns in recent years by Ugandan authorities.

Last year, UTB rebranded to reposition the country as a leading tourism destination in Africa under the banner ‘‘Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.’’

This initiative has seen Uganda’s profile as a destination rise dramatically both regionally and internationally.

The East African country is now banking on this revived brand identity to boost tourist numbers as the global travel industry recovers from shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Business Daily