Uganda and Kenya Push to Cut Airfares and Formalise Tourism Trade Ties
Uganda and Kenya are working to deepen commercial tourism integration, with industry stakeholders calling for lower regional airfares, reduced cross-border barriers and greater digital investment to grow a joint tourism offering across East Africa. The push came at the fifth Uganda - Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit, held on 27 October at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa. Uganda's Consul General, Ambassador Herbert Kiguli, urged stakeholders to move longstanding proposals into national and regional policy, warning that the sector had "talked to ourselves for too long." Five memoranda of association are proposed to formalise commercial ties between travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers and business chambers in both countries.
The partnership is anchored around complementary tourism products - Kenya's coastal and marine attractions alongside Uganda's wildlife, adventure and cultural experiences - marketed under the concept "From Beach to Bush and Bush to Beach." Visitor flows already reflect an established regional market: Uganda accounted for 234,556 visitors to Kenya in 2025, up from 201,623 in 2024, while Kenya sent 519,041 visitors to Uganda in 2025, compared with 466,902 the previous year. However, high airfares between the two countries remain a significant constraint on developing competitive multi-country itineraries. Kiguli called on regional leaders to address travel costs and implement provisions under Article 104 of the East African Community Treaty, which covers the movement of persons, labour and services across member states.
Source: NTV
