Kampala, Uganda. September 20, 2019. Uganda is poised to showcase faith, adventure and film tourism at the Akwaaba Africa Travel Market in Nigeria scheduled to take place from September 22-24, 2019. Team Uganda will be led by Hon. Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Godfrey Kiwanda.
Uganda will leverage faith-based tourism as it participates in this year’s edition of Akwaaba which will be under the theme “Uganda; the land of the martyrs.
“Uganda has invested heavily in renovating our religious tourism sites and created religious trails; which now allows tourists to visit the sites all year round. The Uganda Martyrs, for instance, are very powerful world over and continue to attract a large number of tourists to Uganda every year. The Uganda Martyrs Namugongo Minor Basilica remains probably Africa’s largest faith destination; and Akwaaba is one of many platforms to reach Africa’s largest Christian population,” Hon. Kiwanda said.
UTB CEO, Lilly Ajarova, while commenting on Uganda’s participation said that focus at Akwaaba would be on religious tourism at this year’s edition.
“West Africa, in general, has the highest number of Christians (Catholics) in Africa; and the story of the Uganda Martyrs is one we believe would enrich their faith but also queue visitors to the rest of what Uganda has to offer. Akwaaba will be the platform to which we sell Uganda’s faith-based tourism, Uganda as an adventure country and our potential for film,” Ajarova explained.
She added, “We will leverage on our natural beauty to sell film tourism. We want to attract Africa’s fastest to the growing film industry in West Africa to tap into the opportunities we have in our film industry; thanks to the processes put in place by the Uganda Communication Commission; not forgetting our remarkable history (Archives of Idi Amini), and the Nightlife. Additionally, our thrilling adventure activities will also be on the menu for the showcase.
At a continental stage, Africa remains Uganda’s biggest source market for tourists recording a total of 1.1m tourist arrivals in 2018.
AKWAABA AFRICA TRAVEL MARKET EXPO
African Travel Market is the only international travel fair in West Africa, a population of 270 million people with 15 countries, numerous airports, and the largest number of travelers in Africa. The event takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. Akwaaba, (meaning welcome in Ghana), African Travel Market, is a Travel & Tourism Trade Exhibition (AFTM) that are always held in the month of September in the prime 5,000 sq. meter convention Center of Eko Hotels and Suites, in Lagos, Nigeria.
It attracts over 80 exhibitors from the region’s leading hotels, airlines, travel agents, tour operators and similar industry suppliers to promote their AKWAABA. Africa Travel Market is the major international and largest marketing platform to meet with airlines, Travel Agents, Hotels, Tourism boards both foreign and local, the media and the general traveling public in West Africa. Over the years, Akwaaba Travel Market has grown to become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing attendance from over 7,000 to 10,000 Visitors from 20 Countries.
ABOUT UGANDA
Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is located in East Africa and offers some of the continent’s most diverse wildlife viewing, dramatic landscapes, and immersive cultural experiences and warm people and hospitality. Uganda is home to more than half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, and trekking to observe these gentle giants in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the world’s top bucket list travel activities. Safari opportunities abound in savanna, forest, and wetland settings throughout 10 national parks, where visitors can come face to face with “The Big Five” – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo – as well as giraffe, zebra, chimpanzee, hippopotamus, crocodile, and more than half of all bird species found in Africa. Among Uganda’s extraordinary natural attractions are the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains; expansive Lake Victoria, which forms the source of the Nile River; and Murchison Falls National Park. For more information, please visit; www.visituganda.com.
For more information contact;
Sandra Natukunda
Senior Public Relations Officer
Email: snatukunda@utb.go.ug