The seventh edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (Poate) is on at the Speke Resort Munyonyo Commonwealth Centre.
Poate was started by the Uganda Tourism Board to market the country’s tourism potential. The expo hosts international buyers and media from key source markets in one place. The event took a two-year hiatus owing to the Covid-19 restrictions. This year’s expo was opened by Rtd. Col. Tom Butime, the Minister for Tourism, Worldlife and Antiquities on Wednesday and is on till Saturday April, 29.
Butime expressed optimism for the Uganda tourism sector which he said was growing but cautioned private sector players to up their game to international standards.
Butime added that the government is deliberate about growing tourism and noted that President Yoweri Museveni issued five directives meant to boost tourism, days before the start of Poate. The directives include setting up trade hubs at airports and aerodromes across the country, tarmacking the four export aerodromes and training staff in the hospitality industry about Uganda’s tourist locations and government institutions to harmonize communications in matters of tourism.
Uganda Tourism Board CEO Lily Ajarova noted that the presence of key tourism stakeholders from across the region symbolizes the spirit of supporting each other through inter -regional trade. She called for sustainable and responsible tourism which minimizes negative social impacts but also generates greater economic benefits for the people and host communities.
Ms Elsie Attafuah said countries must create their own wealth and tourism is a low hanging fruit which they must tap into.
