Malindi will in October host the fourth Kenya-Uganda Coast Tourism Conference and Exhibition, an event designed to promote cross-border tourism and deepen cooperation between the two East African nations.

At a media engagement in Malindi on Tuesday in preparation for the two-day event, tourism stakeholders noted that Uganda and Kenya were each other’s leading tourism source markets and underscored the need for joint marketing of their unique attractions.

Speaking during the media launch at a Malindi beach hotel in preparation for the conference that will be held from October 27 to 28 at the same venue, the stakeholders noted that the Kenya Coast and Uganda were not competitors in tourism since they have different tourist attractions that can be promoted jointly and complement one another.

They cited the mountain gorilla, which is endemic in Uganda, and the pristine beaches and dolphins, which are abundant in the Kenyan coast, as some of the tourism products that can be jointly marketed for the benefit of the two neighbouring nations.

Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, said Uganda and the Kenyan coast can easily market the two products jointly so that international tourists can visit the two countries on the same itinerary.

“In Uganda, all our beaches combined cannot be compared with what there is in the Kenyan coast. Here at the Kenyan coast, you cannot find the mountain gorilla. So why don’t we promote these products jointly so that the international tourists who come to the Kenyan coast can enjoy the beaches and on the same itinerary go to Uganda and do the gorilla trekking?” he said.

Mukumbya said the concept has been found to be working over the four years since inception, noting that 100 Kenyan tourism stakeholders have visited Uganda while 300 Ugandan stakeholders had visited the Kenyan coast to learn the products and sell them from a point of knowledge.

The theme of this year’s conference is: Leveraging Youth, Innovation and Technology for Responsive and Inclusive Tourism.

Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Tourism Raymond Ngala who is a co-chair with Mukumbya for the October conference, said the aim of the conference is to involve the youth and infuse technology in all matters pertaining tourism.

“Innovation has taken over everything and therefore we want to infuse technology in everything that we do around tourism to respond to the trends that are happening in the world today,” he said.

Uganda’s Head of Diplomacy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Margaret Kafeero said her country had recognised youth innovation and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) as important drivers for development.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, who was the chief guest during the media launch, said that apart from Uganda and Kenya sharing borders, they also share deep cultural, historical and economic ties.

“Together we can position East Africa as a world-class travel destination where Kenya’s sparkling coastline blends seamlessly with Uganda’s majestic landscapes and vibrant cultures,” he said.

Statistics shared during the media launch show that 466,000 Kenyans visited Uganda, making Kenya its largest source market, while 225,559 Ugandans travelled to Kenya, placing Uganda second only to the United States in tourist arrivals.

Mung’aro described the summit as a chance to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

“Tourism is more than numbers; it is about people and the planet; it must inspire communities to protect our natural heritage and showcase cultures with dignity. I urge all stakeholders, government and civil society to champion tourism models that benefit everyone,” he said.

The first Kenya-Uganda Tourism Summit was held in Mombasa in November 2022. Organisers say the Malindi edition will build on past successes by spotlighting innovation, youth participation and sustainable investment in the region’s tourism sector.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Emmanuel Masha and Shani Rhai