Ugandan and Kenyan private-sector organisations have signed three agreements to boost tourism, trade and investment during a regional summit in Mombasa.
According to allafrica, the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed on the opening day of the fifth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit, at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa on 26 and 27 October.
The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) and the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) signed an agreement on promoting sustainable tourism and regional tourism cooperation across East Africa.
The Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA) and the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) signed an MoU on implementing the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Collaboration. The document describes itself as a framework for cooperation on innovation, investment, youth participation and regional integration.
The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the Mombasa chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) signed an MoU on trade, investment and private-sector cooperation.
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Signing three MoUs was one of the targets organisers set for this year’s summit, which they say marks a move from tourism promotion towards policy action and measurable results.
The meeting is convened by Uganda’s Consulate General in Mombasa under the theme “Unlocking Tourism Opportunities: Resolving Policy Bottlenecks through Technology, Youth and Seamless Mobility across East Africa”. It has brought together government officials, tour operators, technology developers and investors.
Organisers also aim to secure at least two digital tourism prototypes ready for commercial backing and at least 10 business-to-business links between Ugandan and Kenyan coastal operators, with progress tracked over three months.
