From 24 to 25 April, EAC, GIZ and Partner States’ Tourism Boards jointly participated in a regional meeting of technical experts to deliberate and consider the draft report and concepts for a joint EAC Tourism Destination Brand as well as to validate the EAC Tourism Catalogue.
A joint Tourism Destination Brand for the EAC region will add to the already existing national brands and further position the destination attractively, credibly, and distinctively in the market. Further, it will ensure that the East African destination is internationally recognized as a great tourist destination and create distinctive and long-lasting perceptions in the minds of tourists.
Partner States’ delegates gave feedback to the first draft concept including logo and slogan developed as part of the GIZ support to the EAC’s tourism sector. Now, national interviews with tourism officials are to follow.
Further, the East African Tourism Platform (EATP) Coordinator, Yves Ngenzi, made a presentation on the Tourism Catalogue that has been developed in close cooperation with Partner States’ tourism board and private sector as part of EAC-GIZ cooperation. He noted that the objective of the Catalogue was to highlight the key attractions, tourism product offerings and service providers in the EAC Partner States. The Catalogue was validated and will be presented to Council for adoption later in 2023. Once published, it will be a one-stop-document for showcasing all tourism offerings of EAC Partner States in an easily digestible manner.
Following the two-day workshop was the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2023, which took place from 26 to 29 April at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Uganda, attracting over 150 exhibitors and more than 100 hosted buyers. EAC and GIZ were among the main event sponsors and facilitated the Partner States’ Tourism Boards to participate as exhibitors in an effort to once more bring together and increase cooperation in the regional tourism sector.
The event was officially opened by the Ugandan Minister for Tourism, Hon. Tom Butime. Further speaking at the opening ceremony was the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, Dr. Lily Ajarova, Jean Baptiste Havugimana, the Director of Productive Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, representing the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, and the GIZ Country Director for Uganda, James Macbeth Forbes.
On behalf of GIZ, Macbeth Forbes stressed, “Seeing that all Partner States are represented and jointly showcase their offerings here in Uganda gives me a positive feeling for the future of intra-regional cooperation on tourism. This is why GIZ is sponsoring opportunities such as this Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo and supports tourism experts from Partner States to come together and strengthen their networks”.
Watch the POATE 2023 opening ceremony here.
Find more information on EAC and GIZ joint tourism activities here.