Following two highly successful Uganda- Kenya tourism conferences held in the coastal towns of Mombasa and Diani, the third edition is now set to take place in Kampala, Uganda, this November.

The first Uganda –Kenya Coast Tourism Conference was held on November 17, 2022, at Pride Inn Hotel in Mombasa, and the second Conference took place from November 13- 14, 2023 in Diani, Kwale County.

The third Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference is set to take place at the prestigious Speke Resort and Convention Center in Munyonyo, Kampala on November 20 – 21.

On Tuesday, the Uganda government launched a campaign to attract at least 500 Kenyan tourism stakeholders and investors to attend this year’s event.

The campaign was officially launched by the Uganda Consul General at the Kenyan Coast, Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, alongside key tourism stakeholders from both nations in Mombasa.

Speaking at the launch, Ambassador Mukumbya highlighted Uganda's strong commitment to strengthening tourism ties with Kenya.

"This year's venue reflects how seriously we in Uganda take the Kenyan market," Mukumbya stated, urging all tourism stakeholders to register for the event.

He noted that the registration portal had already seen over 300 registrations, with expectations of reaching the 500-participant limit soon.

The conference aims to build on the successes of previous editions held in Mombasa and Diani, which have played a crucial role in enhancing cross-border tourism and trade between the two countries.

"In the past, diplomats used to engage in political diplomacy. However, we are now focusing on what we call economic and commercial diplomacy, which can only be done physically when you are on the ground,” said Mukumbya.

He said Kenya is Uganda’s number one source market for tourists, and Uganda is Kenya’s second biggest tourism source market.

In 2023, over 490,000 Kenyans visited Uganda, whereas 201,620 Ugandans visited Kenya.

"There is an opportunity to grow these numbers if the two countries work together,” said Mukumbya.

Dr Sam Ikwaye, the Executive Director of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), emphasized the importance of fostering trust and collaboration among tourism stakeholders, noting the positive impact of familiarization trips and business-to-business engagements facilitated by the conference.

 "The confidence levels among stakeholders have risen, enabling Kenyan and Ugandan operators to develop and exchange tourism packages effectively," he said.

He said tourism opens up the doors for many other economic activities.

“We are hoping that many more Kenyans, many more hoteliers, the county governments are going to support by sending huge delegations to Uganda in November to be able to participate in this conference and share knowledge, share experiences. Truth is there's so much to learn amongst ourselves,” said Ikwaye.

Gertrude Shuwe, the Tourism County Executive Committee (CEC) member from Taita Taveta, highlighted the unique attractions of Taita Taveta County.

She encouraged Ugandan tourists to explore the region's hidden treasures, including battlefield tourism sites and the Big Five in the Tsavo National Park.

“We have so much more to offer beyond the beaches," Shuwe said, underscoring the potential for cross-border tourism to drive economic growth and job creation.

In addition to tourism promotion, the Uganda Consulate in Mombasa is organizing a trade and investment mission to Uganda early next year.

This initiative aims to attract Kenyan businesspeople and manufacturers to explore opportunities in Uganda, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations.