Kenya, Uganda launch joint tourism drive to attract 1.4 million African visitors

Kenya and Uganda have entered into a fresh tourism partnership designed to attract at least 1.4 million visitors from across Africa by jointly marketing regional attractions and developing cross-border travel experiences.

The announcement was made in Malindi during the Fourth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and Exhibition, a three-day event that has drawn government officials, investors, and tourism stakeholders from both nations.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano described the collaboration as a milestone in regional tourism, emphasising that both governments are keen to make East Africa a more connected and sustainable destination.

“Our focus is to simplify travel between our countries, offer incentives to investors, and champion green tourism ventures that empower communities. Through innovation and shared commitment, we aim to reach our joint target of 1.4 million African tourists,” she said.

Themed 'Leveraging Youth, Innovation and Technology for Responsive and Inclusive Tourism', this year’s meeting underscores the importance of technology and collaboration in reviving the tourism sector following global disruptions.

Miano highlighted Uganda’s importance as a key source market for Kenya, noting that more than 225,000 Ugandan nationals visited last year, contributing nearly 10 per cent of all international arrivals.

She added that Kenya and Uganda’s long-standing ties offer a strong foundation for joint tourism development.

“Our partnership is as timeless as the Indian Ocean tides and as vital as the Nile’s flow. It is from this shared heritage that our future growth will come,” she noted.

Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, urged both countries to jointly promote their distinct attractions.

He said that while Kenya boasts world-class beaches, Uganda is home to the endangered mountain gorilla experiences that could be combined to create a unique regional itinerary.

“Instead of competing, we should complement each other. A traveller can enjoy Kenya’s coastal beauty and then head to Uganda for a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek,” Mukumbya said.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro welcomed the partnership, noting that it would strengthen investment opportunities and support tourism recovery along the Kenyan coast.

The Malindi gathering follows the recent Kenya Coast Investment Forum, which explored ways to stimulate tourism growth and attract investors to coastal counties.

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Miano reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to encouraging environmentally friendly and community-based tourism projects that contribute to regional prosperity.

The annual event, organised by the Ugandan Consulate in Mombasa with support from various partners, features exhibitions, cultural performances, and networking sessions intended to enhance cooperation between the two nations.

The renewed collaboration stems from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in July 2025 between Presidents William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni, setting out plans for joint policy development, marketing initiatives, and infrastructure upgrades.

Officials said the strengthened partnership would help open up new tourism circuits, improve connectivity, and promote East Africa as a single, seamless travel destination for both African and global visitors.