Relaxed border restrictions have been credited for the near double growth in tourism numbers between Kenya and Uganda in the past two years, with the two countries implementing joint tourist events to improve integration.
Data from the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) shows over 600,000 tourists from the two countries visited different tourist centers in 2023, compared to 320,000 in 2022. Various interventions, including the use of identification cards to cross borders, improved infrastructure, investments in establishments, and joint marketing campaigns, have bridged market access challenges and increased the numbers.
An initiative launched about two years ago for joint marketing of beach and safari tourism has been yielding positive results. The Uganda Consul-General at the Kenyan Coast, Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, noted that increased flights by Uganda Airlines and improvements in the modern transport sector have also led to increased tourism numbers. In 2023, more than 490,000 Kenyans visited Uganda, while 201,620 Ugandans visited Kenya.
The successful Kenya-Uganda tourism conferences held in the coastal towns of Mombasa and Diani have further fueled the desire of citizens in the two countries to visit different tourist attraction centers.
Plans are underway to hold the 3rd Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference in Kampala, Uganda, from 20th to 21st November 2024, which aims to attract Kenyan businesspeople and manufacturers to explore opportunities in Uganda, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations.
The partnership between tourism stakeholders from Uganda and the Kenya Coastal region has been enhanced, with different operators from both countries already selling each other’s destinations. This initiative aims to ensure that thousands of tourists visiting either Kenya or Uganda can move freely between the two countries, experiencing the unique offerings of each destination.
Uganda and Kenya’s complementary tourism products, such as Uganda’s mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, cultural and religious tourism, and Kampala’s nightlife, coupled with Kenya’s beautiful beaches, marine tourism, and historical sites, create a synergistic opportunity for the two countries to work together to promote tourism without competing.
The East African market has great tourism potential, with a growing middle class, improved infrastructure, and relaxation of travel restrictions. Kenya remains Uganda’s biggest source market for tourists in the region and second in the world after the US, accounting for 32% of total arrivals last year.
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