7th edition of Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo opens
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE 2023) has opened in Kampala, Uganda's capital, marking the first physical event in three years after the pandemic-induced hiatus. Government and private sector stakeholders from Uganda, East Africa, Africa, and beyond, attended the opening ceremony, eager to engage, learn, and promote their destinations, products, and services.
In her opening speech, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova, stressed the need for sustainable and responsible tourism as the next emerging trend for tourism development, particularly in Uganda. Ajarova emphasized the significance of tourism to socio-economic and empowerment, calling for streamlining of sustainable practices in the sector. She also disclosed that Uganda's main entities in the industry would soon align their practices towards sustainable tourism.
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butime, acknowledged the growth of tourism in Uganda and declared the government's continued efforts to attract more visitors to the country. POATE 2023 attracted participation from over 150 exhibitors and 100 hosted buyers, including tourism boards and associations from various regions of Africa and non-African countries. They were keen to explore Uganda and include it in their African itinerary in the coming months.
