Uganda’s exhibition viewed at the World Travel Market expo in London.

In the recently concluded World Travel Market (WTM) expo that took place in London, Uganda tourism won wider publicity and keen interest in UK’s top media leading to inquisitive inquiries in the destination. World Travel Market is the largest tourism expo in the whole world.

The popular Financial times on Sunday featured a full page of Uganda tourism which was spread in most of the travel section of the UK’s most prestigious and influential newspapers known as FT or Pinky, the newspaper has a distinctive pink colour, and it is recognized internationally for its authority and accuracy. The Financial Times has an average of 2.2 million daily readers from all over part of the world.

Numerous Uganda Tour companies who offer Uganda Safaris and Tours, attended the travel markets and exhibited tour packages and attractions that Uganda offers.

Financial times have 4.5 million registered users and over 285,000 digital subscribers, as well as 600,000 paying users. Financial times in China have more than 1.7 million registered users.

UTB Chief Executive officer Stephen Asiimwe said that it is  a mark of honor, recognition and visibility  for Uganda tourism to appear in the financial times newspaper .Indeed it’s a very great publicity more so that that it was featured on the full page as the lead news on the eve of the Worlds Tourism Market .

The expo was led by Prof.Ephraim Kamuntu who is Minister of Tourism wildlife and Antiquities, and hosted by Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda exhibiting at the Excel international Convention Centre that is found on the northern quay of the Royal Victoria Dock in London Docklands, between Canary Wharf and London City Airport.

There were 20 private sector exhibitors who attended the three-day event and also included hoteliers and accommodation property owners. “In 2015 and 2016, Uganda had 18 private sector players. This is the largest provisional of private sector players and we are very expectant there will be an upsurge in numbers,” said by Stephen Asiimwe, the CEO of the UTB yesterday.

Tour Operators from Uganda attended to market wildlife treasures of Uganda featuring prominently on the list being Mountain Gorillas whose trekking contribute the biggest portion to the country;s tourism earnings.

Uganda Tourism Board also delivered promotional materials, meals, entertainment, media, speaking engagements and coordinated meetings with different players.

The state minister of tourism Godfrey Kiwanda from the government of Uganda, the shadow tourism minister and MP for Kasese, Hon Robert Centenary, and the outgoing Tourism Permanent Secretary Ambassador. Patrick Mugoya. Mr. Mugoya has been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Others are the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the High Commission in London led by Amb. Joyce Kikafunda.

Prof Kamuntu said at the media as he was briefing at the Uganda “We are here to aggressively market Uganda in all its facets”, he again said that the president of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has promised to give us support and we are determined to push Uganda to a middle income economy by 2031 and tourism will be the cash cow in this industry.

Asiimwe said that the engagement of a public relations and marketing firm for the UK market has been a big enhancement in passing business contacts, appointments and securing good deals for our tour operators.

Kamageo group was accountable for the enlarged publicity, visibility and interest in Uganda. Kamageo has been administering “Discover Your Uganda” campaign under the Pearl of Africa brand. This has led to writers flying into Uganda  so that they can write and cover travel experiences from Bwindi Impenetrable forests to Kidepo National Park and covered in top media houses like National Geographic, The Sun Newspaper, The Daily Star, The Independent, Rough Guides, among others.

At the WTM Uganda featured in a travel trade center-spread magazine, the TTG@WTM with a readership of 50,000 readers in print and on-line.

Uganda appointed three PR and Marketing companies for North America, German Speaking and English speaking countries in May 2016. The UK firm, which was contracted, Kamageo, has been very active in engaging mainly UK travel trade and media companies to market travel experiences to Uganda. The event which was propelled by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe has seen over six groups from top Media and Travel companies do familiarization trips to Uganda.

Uganda showcased its great weather, wildlife, culture, heritage, investment opportunities and distinctive location as the crucial destination under the Pearl of Africa brand.

Prof. Kamuntu as head of delegation and the State Minister for Tourism Hon. Kiwanda held several meetings and interviews with top media companies like CNN and Travel One magazines and engagements with private public sector players in the UK. Hon. Kiwanda also launched the Tulambule (Let’s tour) UK Chapter campaign in London.

Uganda also together with its neighbors Kenya and Rwanda under the Border-less borders brand and the Joint Tourism Marketing Committee, an initiative that was signed on by the heads of State summit of the Northern Strip Infrastructure Projects initiative.

Mrs. Susan Muhwezi, the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) chairperson, highly praised Ugandans for exhibiting very well.

She again said that “The Uganda stand and the participants have made us proud and we as UHOA will ensure that in future expos we also contribute effectively”.