Kenya Uganda Agreements Target Regional Tourism

Kenyan and Ugandan tourism organisations have signed four cooperation agreements aimed at developing cross-border travel products, using digital services to connect Uganda's wildlife destinations with Kenya's coastal holiday market.

The memoranda were concluded during the fifth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit in Mombasa. Signatories included travel agent and tour operator associations from both countries, alongside chambers of commerce and private-sector bodies. Discussions focused on online booking platforms, shared destination marketing, better connectivity and the use of data to improve tourism services. Entrepreneurs also presented digital products intended to simplify travel planning and link visitors with local operators.

The initiative builds on growing visitor flows between the neighbouring countries. Uganda Tourism Board figures show arrivals from Kenya increased to 519,041 in 2025 from 466,902 the previous year. Kenyan tourism data recorded 234,556 visitors from Uganda last year, up from 201,623 in 2024, making Uganda Kenya's second-largest source market. Supporters hope joint itineraries will encourage travellers to combine primate trekking, lakes and mountain experiences with beach holidays and cultural attractions. Shared marketing could also help smaller operators reach visitors beyond their customer bases.

Turning agreements into additional business will require operators to align marketing, transport connections and practical booking arrangements. The memoranda establish a basis for collaboration rather than an immediate expansion in visitor numbers. For small tourism enterprises, however, regional packages could create access to customers who currently book each destination separately. The summit's emphasis on technology reflects an effort to make East African travel easier to organise and sell.