Kenya Airways Country Manager Felix Mwangangi (2R) and Kenya Tourism Board Assistant Marketing Manager Josephine Mbela (4R) present a return air ticket to Robert Onega of Hannah and Hannah Tours. PHOTO BY GLORIA BUSINGE

Two lucky participants at the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) have won return tickets to Nairobi and Mombasa from Kenya Airways and the Kenya Tourism Board, following a raffle draw.

Robert Onega of Hannah and Hannah Tours had his business card picked from a box and instantly won himself a return ticket to Nairobi where he will stay at the Tribe Hotel for two nights.

Ms Faith Limara of Tracks and Trails also won a return ticket to Mombasa, for a two-nights’ stay at the Pride Hotel.

• Kenya Airways Director, Felix Mwangangi said the prizes were their token of appreciation for the excellent exhibition at the Expo.

Josephine Mbela of the Kenya Tourism Board, said they were glad to take part in the POATE, promising to send more participants next year.

At this year's three-day event, Kenya was represented by a strong contingent comprising; the Kenya Tourism Board, Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Tamarind Hotel, Hemingways Hotel, The Tribe Hotel, Heritage Hotels, Kilifi County, Pride Inn Hotels, Enashipai Resort and Spa, Hermosa Hotel, Kenya Airways, and Southern Sky Safaris.

• The POATE is an annual tourism and travel trade show organized by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), bringing together key players in the tourism value chain for networking opportunities and business deals under both Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer formats.

This year marked the eighth edition of the event, attracting over 70 buyers and more than 5,000 trade visitors and consumers over the three-day period.

The expo, themed “Responsible Tourism,” blended Leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism seamlessly, reflecting the global emerging trends.

According to the Uganda Tourism Board, the expo aims to bolster the country’s tourism industry by increasing annual tourism revenue to approximately $1.9b and raising inbound tourism revenue per visitor from $1,052 to $1,500.

The country’s tourism revenue for the year ending 2023 rose to over $1b, up from about $687.2 m in 2022, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Data from the ministry indicates that international tourist arrivals reached about 1.3 million in 2023, a 56.5% increase from 2022, with arrivals from Africa continuing to dominate at 89.2%.

• As Uganda continues to attract international tourists, the potential to draw more travelers from emerging markets, such as China, is significant. The sector remains a vital sector for Uganda, contributing about 5 % to the country’s GDP.