The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2025 (POATE), Uganda’s biggest and most prestigious tourism event, has officially commenced at Speke Resort and Convention Centre, Munyonyo—a venue renowned for hosting high-profile international gatherings and luxury conferences.
The grand opening set the tone for a dynamic three-day showcase of Uganda’s tourism potential, with Stephen Sanyi Masaba, Tourism Director at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), delivering a powerful address on Day One.
He emphasized Uganda’s rich and diverse wildlife heritage, outlining strategic investment opportunities in areas such as eco-lodges, River Nile cruises, canopy walkways, private licensed animal parks, and sustainable initiatives including wildlife farming and forestry projects.
Organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the expo will run until Saturday, May 24, bringing together over 100 global travel buyers, media, influencers, and tourism stakeholders for exhibitions, networking, and exploration.
This year’s edition is themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” reflecting Uganda’s commitment to eco-conscious development.
The event highlights untapped investment opportunities within the country’s protected areas, positioning tourism as a catalyst for conservation-led economic growth.
POATE 2025 features a robust schedule of Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sessions, designed to foster valuable partnerships, encourage investment, and promote collaboration across the tourism value chain.
In addition, East African Tourism Ministers are convening on the sidelines of the expo to strengthen regional integration and collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing East Africa’s global tourism competitiveness.
Delivering a continental perspective, Hon. Yussif Jajah, Ghana’s Deputy Tourism Minister, stressed the urgent need to address challenges around connectivity and infrastructure across Africa.
He also raised concerns about visa requisition processes, which he described as a barrier to tourism growth on the continent.
With POATE 2025 underway at the prestigious Speke Resort Munyonyo, Uganda continues to position itself as a top-tier destination for sustainable tourism investment and cross-border collaboration.
