The East African countries of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda will share a stand at WTM London next month for the first time as the destinations augment their collaborative marketing efforts, Najib Balala, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism revealed at this week’s Magical Kenya Travel Expo in Nairobi.
The three destinations will be branded “a borderless East Africa”.
Noticeably absent is Tanzania. The Tanzanian Tourism Board did not exhibit at this year’s expo, although both Rwanda’s and Uganda’s tourism boards took stands and private-sector exhibitors from Tanzania also participated in the show. Tanzania is also not part of the East African univisa, which gives international tourists access to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda on a single visa.
Balala emphasised the need for collaboration. He thanked Rwanda and Uganda for their support of the show. “We are waiting for our brothers in Tanzania to join us and we hope it will be very soon.”
While Kenya has scrapped its VAT on tourism services, Tanzania recently announced an 18% tourism VAT.
Bonifence Byamukama, Chairman of the East Africa Tourism Platform, which represents members of the private sector in East Africa – including Tanzania – told Tourism Update on the side-lines of the event that discussions with Tanzania were ongoing and the private sector was in favour of a collaboration with the other East African countries.
