The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo which was scheduled to be held next month has been extended by a month, organisers have said.
This year’s expo was set to be held February 8–11 but has now been postponed to April 26–28, 2023, and according to the Uganda Tourism Board, the rescheduling of the event will allow for comprehensive engagement and participation of stakeholders.
According to the UTB board chairperson, Daudi Migereko, this year’s edition seeks to reposition destination Uganda through transformational marketing of all the country’s tourism offerings post-pandemic.
He added that the one-month extension will enable a comprehensive arrangement that provides sufficient time for participation.
“Over the years, POATE has given stakeholders of the tourism industry a unique chance to network, meet new clients and discuss business opportunities,” he said.
The expo will feature national, regional, and international exhibitors, business-to-business and business-to-consumer meetings, and hosted buyer familiarisation trips, among many other activities.
UTB CEO Lilly Ajarova explained that with the expo, closer ties between Uganda and the major international tourism source markets will be fostered.
“It will open up new tourist markets for both intra-African and international travel. The participation from a wide range of tourism trade partners, hosted buyers, local and international media, tour operators, travel agencies, and other tourism-related organisations is important to the growth of the sector,” Ajarova said.
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo is a signature annual event for Uganda that offers a platform to market and propel the growth of the tourism sector.
The Uganda Tourism Board anticipates over 100 hosted buyers and 300 exhibitors, including tourism boards and corporate entities.
The expo also envisages hosting more than 5,000 trade visitors and consumers over the three days.