Uganda, Tanzania strengthen tourism ties
CAPTION: Uganda traditional dancers entertain gusts during the eent in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday 28th, 2026. (Courtset photo).
By Our reporter
DAR ES SALAAM – Uganda and Tanzania have reinforced their commitment to regional tourism integration following a joint tourism roadshow held in Dar es Salaam.
The Uganda–Tanzania Tourism Roadshow took place on April 28 at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam under the theme “Promoting Regional Tourism Partnerships & Business Linkages.”
Organized by the Uganda High Commission in Dar es Salaam, the event brought together tourism stakeholders from both countries to deepen collaboration, promote joint destination marketing, and unlock cross-border business opportunities.
Uganda’s Deputy High Commissioner to Tanzania, Amb. Elizabeth Allimadi, underscored the importance of regional cooperation and the role of tourism in driving economic growth and strengthening bilateral relations.
“By working together, we’re strengthening regional cooperation and regional value chains, enhancing destination competitiveness and creating a unified East African destination,” she said.
Amb. Allimadi emphasized that the roadshow goes beyond showcasing tourism potential, positioning it as a platform for strengthening people-to-people connections and encouraging investment. She also invited stakeholders to participate in the upcoming Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo in Kampala.
CAPTION: Ugandans and Tanzanians participants at the event.
The President of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Mr. Willy Chambulo, highlighted the need for collaboration over competition.
“Both Uganda and Tanzania are not competitors but are all aiming at selling markets,” he said, noting that improved infrastructure remains critical to enabling seamless tourism experiences across the region.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Vice President of the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), Mr. Isa Kato, stressed the central role of the private sector in advancing regional integration.
“Our leaders sign the treaties, but it is the private sector that must breathe life into them,” he said, calling for stronger partnerships to position East Africa as a single, competitive tourism destination.
Meanwhile, Mr. Francis Nyende, Marketing Manager at the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), showcased Uganda’s diverse tourism offerings, including mountain gorilla trekking, Big Five safaris, birding, and primate tracking experiences.
A key highlight of the roadshow was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): one between the Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators (ZATO) and the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), and another between the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA).
The agreements underscore a shared commitment to promoting tourism development, strengthening regional partnerships, and advancing sustainable tourism growth across East Africa.
The MoUs outline cooperation in key areas such as joint tourism marketing and promotion, business-to-business linkages, knowledge sharing, and capacity development. They also provide for joint participation in trade fairs and roadshows, development of combined tourism packages, training programmes, exchange of best practices, and the sharing of market intelligence and research.
The partnership is expected to drive increased tourist flows, support innovation in tourism products, and further strengthen regional integration within East Africa’s tourism sector.
The roadshow concluded with business-to-business (B2B) engagements and networking sessions between Ugandan and Tanzanian tour operators, fostering new partnerships and reinforcing regional tourism linkages.
