Uganda welcomed ten hosted buyers from various tour companies. These buyers, hailing from different countries, explored Uganda’s national parks and accommodation facilities during their visit from October 22 to 28, 2023.
Their journey began with a flight from Entebbe Airport to Kasese Aerodrome, where they embarked on a chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale National Park. Subsequently, they ventured to Queen Elizabeth National Park, engaging in unforgettable experiences, including game drives and boat cruises. The itinerary also included a visit to Bwindi National Park for gorilla tracking and community expeditions. After this immersive wildlife experience, the visitors returned to Kampala for urban engagements and meetings with the private sector.
Here is a breakdown of the group’s composition:
| Hosted Buyers | Countries Represented |
|---|---|
| Agnieszka Lewandowska | Poland |
| Anna Tyburksa | Poland |
| Grzegorz Niec | Poland |
| Tim Brouwer | Belgium |
| Manuel Eyland | Germany |
| Abhishek Mittal | India |
| Brigita Deveikaite | Lithuania |
| Benedikt Kristinsson | Sweden |
| Hendra Wijaya | Indonesia |
| [Other Participants] | UK |
The Uganda Convention Bureau, a unit under the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), facilitated and financed the visit. The hosted buyers covered their airfare expenses to Uganda from their respective countries.
These visitors primarily came from the incentive travel market, a segment popular in developed countries where corporations reward their staff or board members for achieving set targets. This luxurious venture aimed to position Uganda as an attractive destination for such incentive travel.
The hosted buyers were identified through various international expos and selected based on their interest in promoting Uganda as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, conventions, events, and exhibitions (MICE).
Throughout their visit, the group assessed accommodation facilities near the tourist attractions to gauge their suitability for hosting high-end clientele. On average, an incentive buyer spends approximately $890 per day.
Besides exploring the natural beauty of Uganda, the hosted buyers aimed to understand the strength of Uganda’s private sector and establish business relationships. A networking cocktail event with local businesses marked the culmination of their visit.
While the Uganda Convention Bureau initiated the process by hosting the buyers, it’s the private sector that will continue to engage with these international buyers. The bureau plans to conduct such activities annually, with support from the UTB research officer.
For many of the hosted buyers, this trip marked their first visit to Uganda. They were captivated by the country’s rich biodiversity and expressed a strong interest in promoting travel to Uganda.
Benedikt Kristinsson, who extended his stay in Uganda, emphasized the need for improved network services in remote areas and enhanced infrastructure like roads to boost tourism. He encouraged Uganda to establish a strong online presence to attract more tourists.
In line with this, the tourism ministry, in collaboration with the Uganda National Roads Authority and the Uganda Road Fund, is developing an emergency road maintenance program to improve tourism roads and infrastructure.
According to the Uganda tourism satellite account in 2023, the tourism sector recorded 19.3% of arrivals in Uganda for holidays, leisure, and recreation, showcasing its growing prominence. Tourism has historically contributed significantly to Uganda’s GDP, making it one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.
