COCKTAILS AT THE LAKESHORES – UGANDA WELCOMES THE 39TH ATA WORLD CONGRESS
(Posted 12th November 2014)
Uganda’s Minister for Tourism Hon. Dr. Maria Mutagamba, welcomed hundreds of delegates and guests yesterday evening at Kampala’s premier resort and conference complex in Munyonyo, where the 39th ATA World Congress will formally go underway in the morning with the official opening of the even by President Yoweri Museveni.
Delegates from across Africa, from the United States, Canada and other countries were joined by some of the speakers for the conference, the local tourism fraternity and invited guests from the Ugandan business and diplomatic community, allowing to get to know each other at the pool and lake side of the Commonwealth Resort with the weather too playing ball as a warm breeze made everyone comfortable.
Tourism ministers from across the East African region are expected to join Dr. Mutagamba in the morning and in the proceedings of coming days, no doubt turning the spotlight on East Africa’s tourism attractions and why it is safe to come and visit, not just Uganda but also Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania or even neighbouring Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia and other destinations on the continent.
(Uganda’s Minister for Tourism Hon. Dr. Maria Mutagamba welcoming ATA delegates)
There was according to several delegates spoken to no doubt that the West African Ebola crisis has a deep impact on global travel to Africa and the coming days will no doubt be used to put distances in perspective and show that wannabe travelers to Eastern and Southern Africa need not fear to be anywhere near the outbreak zone, in fact East Africa being between 5 and 7 flight hours away.
(Evening impressions from the ATA World Congress venue last evening at the shores of Lake Victoria)
Greg Petzer, the General Manager of the Munyonyo Speke and Commonwealth Resorts, also made the round to welcome his guests, most of whom are booked at the venue directly, able to walk to and from their rooms to the conference halls without being delayed by Kampala’s traffic.
Be sure to watch this space for regular updates from the proceedings over the next few days or follow the hashtag #ATAUganda on Twitter for first hand delegates’ impressions.
