- More than 50 Ugandan tour operators, hoteliers and travel influencers arrived at the Kenya Coast on October 21, 2026, for a familiarisation trip
- The delegation will visit beaches, marine parks and heritage sites across Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties over several days
- The trip precedes the 5th Uganda–Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit scheduled for October 26 to 27, at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort
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A delegation of more than 50 Ugandan tourism professionals landed at the Kenya Coast on October 21, 2026, kicking off a multi-day familiarisation trip designed to give them direct, hands-on exposure to the region's hospitality and tourism offerings.
Source: UGC
The group, comprising tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers and social media travel influencers, was organised by the Consulate General of the Republic of Uganda in Mombasa in partnership with coastal tourism stakeholders.
Their visit serves as a lead-up to the 5th Uganda–Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit, scheduled for October 26 to 27, 2026 at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa.
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What will the Ugandan delegation explore in Kenya?
Over the coming days, delegates will travel through Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties, experiencing beaches, marine parks, cultural heritage sites, hotels and resorts first-hand.
The intention is for participants to return to Uganda equipped to package and actively sell Kenya Coast holidays, as well as to form direct working relationships with Kenyan counterparts. A section of the group will also compete in the Uganda–Kenya Coast Open golf tournament at Vipingo Ridge on October 24 before proceeding to the Summit.
Ambassador Herbert Kiguli, Consul General of the Republic of Uganda in Mombasa, said the exercise was about turning regional integration into something tangible.
"Regional integration takes shape when Ugandan tour operators visit the Kenyan Coast, interact with hoteliers and gain first-hand knowledge of the tourism products they can promote back home. The delegation is expected to return as ambassadors for the Coast, helping market Kenya and Uganda as complementary destinations and creating opportunities for both tourism sectors to grow," he said in a statement sent to TUKO.co.ke.
Kisuule Sulaiman, director at Karibu Adventure Safaris in Uganda, noted that demand for combined itineraries is already visible among clients.
"Our clients are increasingly interested in combined holidays that include gorilla trekking in Uganda followed by a week on the Kenyan Coast. Experiencing the attractions first-hand and meeting the people who deliver these services will help us promote the Coast more confidently and establish long-term partnerships with Kenyan tourism operators," he explained.
How the tourism corridor is posting growth
Data from the Kenya Tourism Board shows arrivals from Uganda rose by approximately 16%, from 201,623 in 2024 to 234,556 in 2025, making Uganda Kenya's second-largest source market.
Over the same period, the Uganda Tourism Board recorded a roughly 11% increase in Kenyan visitors to Uganda, from 466,902 to 519,041. Combined, the two countries exchanged more than 750,000 visitors in 2025.
Both destinations also posted record earnings that year. Kenya's tourism receipts reached KSh 501.3 billion, according to the Tourism Research Institute, while Uganda's tourism income stood at approximately KSh 592 billion (USD 1.62 billion).
Source: TUKO.co.ke