By Joseph Mary Buwule
Uganda has intensified efforts to market itself as a leading tourism destination in the region ahead of the forthcoming Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) 2026, by hosting a Familiarisation (FAM) Trip for travel agents and tourism buyers from Tanzania.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, the delegation was received at Entebbe International Airport by officials from the Uganda High Commission in Dar es Salaam as part of a week-long tourism promotion programme running from May 16th to 23rd.
The visiting travel agents and buyers are expected to tour several of Uganda’s unique tourism attractions and destinations, giving them first-hand experience of the country’s rich biodiversity, wildlife, culture, hospitality, and adventure tourism offerings.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening regional tourism partnerships between Uganda and Tanzania while also increasing Uganda’s visibility within the East African tourism market ahead of POATE 2026, one of the country’s flagship tourism and travel trade exhibitions.
Officials say the familiarisation trip will provide the Tanzanian tourism stakeholders with an opportunity to better understand Uganda’s tourism products, enabling them to market and recommend the destination to international and regional travelers.
Uganda continues to position itself as the “Pearl of Africa,” boasting attractions such as mountain gorillas, diverse wildlife, scenic landscapes, water bodies, and cultural heritage sites that attract thousands of tourists every year.
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo brings together tourism stakeholders, investors, hosted buyers, travel media, and tour operators from across the world to showcase Uganda’s tourism potential and promote business networking within the sector.