Kenya and Uganda have announced plans to collaborate in promoting East Africa as a single, unified tourism destination, offering a range of diverse attractions that will appeal to both local and international visitors.
Kenya is preparing to showcase its stunning sandy beaches, vast marine parks, thrilling skydiving, deep-sea diving, and exciting game drives. Uganda, on the other hand, will highlight its world-renowned mountain gorillas, tree-climbing lions, and over 1,000 species of birds found across its national parks.
This initiative will be launched during the 4th Uganda–Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, set to take place in Malindi from October 22 to 29, 2025. The conference will be a week-long event bringing together more than 750 stakeholders, including hoteliers, tour operators, investors, and government representatives from both countries.
The goal of this partnership is to break away from competition and instead build a complementary relationship. As Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, explained, since 2022, over 100 Kenyan tourism stakeholders have visited Uganda, while 300 Ugandans have visited Kenya’s coast.
He emphasized that the collaboration seeks to highlight the role of young people, innovation, and technology in driving inclusive tourism.
Both countries have already seen strong cross-border tourism traffic, with over 250,000 Ugandans visiting Kenya, mainly the coastal areas, and 600,000 Kenyans visiting Uganda in the past year. Kilifi County’s Governor, Gideon Mung’aro, highlighted local treasures like Watamu Marine National Park, the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and Gede Ruins as significant attractions.
He also called for the creation of joint tourism circuits that would link Uganda’s gorilla sanctuaries to Kenya’s coastal heritage, enhancing both countries’ tourism offerings.
The conference is also seen as a platform to boost investments in eco-tourism, improve transport infrastructure, and create sustainable jobs through local community enterprises. Raymond Ngala, Kilifi County’s Executive Committee Member for Trade and Tourism, shared that organizers are aiming to engage 750 strategic partners, including airlines, hotels, and tour companies, to unlock tourism potential in the region.
The collaboration is also part of a larger regional agenda to boost intra-African travel and reduce reliance on international markets. The East African Community (EAC) has been working towards harmonizing policies, allowing tourists to move more easily between member states, which is expected to increase visitor numbers and revenue.
Officials are hopeful that the October conference will not only increase tourism arrivals but will also set the stage for a long-term framework for co-creating experiences between Kenya and Uganda, positioning East Africa as a top global travel destination.
With Kenya and Uganda combining their natural beauty, unique wildlife, and cultural heritage, the potential for creating a dynamic and sustainable tourism sector is enormous. This collaboration signals a new era in East Africa’s tourism industry, where cooperation leads the way to greater success.
