Uganda Tourism Board unveiled Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) 2023 at Sheraton Kampala during World Tourism Day celebration. The Expo, an annual event was officially launched by the State Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka in the presence of UTB Board Chairman Hon. Daudi Migereko, UTB Director Vivian Lyazzi and Marketing Manager Claire Mugabi. The sixth POATE was held from April 26th to 29th, 2023.
The Board Chair Hon. Migereko explained that this edition was expected to draw more than 1,500 local consumers over the course of three days. He said that the event was held as a hybrid exposition involving Business to Business and Business to Consumer activities into both physical and virtual form. The expo was also to serve as a means of marketing destination Uganda with the new destination brand to national, regional and global markets.
The Regional Tourism Boards, International Tour Operators and Associations, Hoteliers, International media, and Airlines are few of the high-caliber international exhibitors that POATE 2023 drew. The Expo w reignited tourism in destination Uganda, created over 500 business linkages for Uganda’s travel trade and consolidated Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa brand.
Claire Mugabi, the UTB Marketing Manager highlighted that POATE 2023 was anticipated to bring together various tourism stakeholders for the three days, along with other service providers intended to increase Uganda’s profile as a preferred destination for tourists. “Over the years, the event has offered a unique opportunity for the tourism business operators to meet new clients, network and discuss business deals by the world’s tourism and travel trade partners,” she stated.
Vibrant Holiday Safaris had the opportunity to be apart of the 6th edition of the Pearl Of Africa Toursim Expo and we glad to share with you our experience.
What is Poate?
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo is East Africa’s tourism signature event that brings together tourism stakeholders to one ideal meeting place to meet and network with exhibitors, buyers, investors and suppliers of services in the tourism sector from all over the world.
Goals Of Poate 2023
The POATE 2023 had quite a number of goals and below were some of them;
It was aimed at increasing global destination awareness of Uganda as a brand in key source markets.
It was to establish and promote key domestic tourism hotspots in Uganda for balanced destination development.
It was to improve on tourist information dimmension for increased destination awareness.
Objectives of Poate 2023
Besides the goals, UTB had objectives which we believe were a success after the expo and some of them included the following;
Uganda destinations were to be showcased and promoted to atleast 100 hosted buyers and 300 exhibitors at the Poate 2023 expo.
The pearl of Africa brand identity was to be rolled out in the domestic, regional and international markets for increased destination awareness.
To promote tourism investment in Uganda through showcasing Ugandas diverse wildlife and destinations.
Our Experience At Poate 2023
Although we had challenges with the weather and delay in set up by the UTB team, Vibrant Holiday Safaris had a great experience at the expo. We had the opportunity to interact with buyers from various countries as well as our fellow tour operators. Sharing experiences and getting to learn more about our tourism industry was of great added advantage to Vibrant Holiday Safaris as a Ugandan tour operator.
It is of great pleasure for Vibrant Holiday Safaris to be apart of the steadily growing tourism industry in Uganda and we are greatly looking forward to more better experiences in the coming expos.