EAST AFRICA TOURISM PLATFORM READY FOR KIGALI MEETING
(Posted 02nd September 2015)
Key tourism stakeholders from across Eastern Africa will have their first opportunity in Kigali tomorrow, 03rd September, to see Carmen Nibigira in action, since she took over from Waturi Wa Matu who left the organization to join Trade Mark East Africa.
The meeting will take place as a collaboration between the Rwanda Development Board and fellow tourism boards and Rwanda as the host country will be holding a networking session in Kigali for tourism stakeholdersfrom Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Taking place at the Kigali Serena Hotel Conference Centre this will follow the morning session of ‘Conversation about Conservation’ which RDB has also organized as part of their annual ‘Kwita Izina’ festival week celebrating the conservation efforts towards the endangered mountain gorillas.
The EATP networking session is geared to offer stakeholders a platform to start a conversation about intra-inter-regional tourism collaboration in East Africa. Highlighted will be some of the significant topics of why selling the region as one single tourist destination is a smart and sound way forward. With the EAC Single Tourist Visa and the use of national IDs for traveling within the 3 countries: Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, EATP thrives to see now a more integrated the tourism sector.
This platform will encourage stakeholders to introduce and sell multi country packages, improve cross- border economic and tourism growth which are the main objectives of this networking session. The vision of East Africa Tourism Platform is to see a vibrant and diverse single tourist destination that provides exceptional experiences to domestic, regional and international tourists.
This networking session serves as a beginning of a series of events EATP will holding across the region to encourage the tourism private sector to look at EAC as a growing tourism market and a destination with multiple products and service offerings.
This forum is taking place during the 11th “Kwita Izina” Event organized by Rwanda Development Board. New this year are the Kwita Izina Awards which will be launched to recognize local conservationists for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the wildlife and tourism. EATP has invited all tourism stakeholders in East Africa to attend this event, as this is the day for business, let’s talk about intra and inter-regional tourism.
Stakeholders are invited to attend the session and which is open for attendance for industry representatives from across the region and across the board.
