Regional Tourism players have Friday launched the East African Tourism portal which will help tourists from all around the world to choose the services they need from Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
On the website www.visiteastafrica.org tourists will find all types tourism services available in the three countries and actually place orders.
This comes after the launch of the single tourist visa which tourists can use to visit all three countries.
“This is a great opportunity for us as East Africans because it will sell us even more. We believe it will ease the work of tour operators who will only have to show the tourist the website for him or her to choose where to go, said “Earnest Kayinamura, the executive director of Hexacomb, the Rwanda based organization which set up the portal.
While addressing the hosted buyers and media this morning at the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, Kayinamura added that the portal provides a plat form for all stakeholders who can easily interact with the private sector and even form associations which will help keep track of tourism statistics.
“The East African community is excited about this and we are very positive that it will yield much for our tourism sector.”
Meanwhile, speaking at the Expo, tourism minister Godfrey Kiwanda reassured that Uganda is soon reinstating its defunct airline which will resolve the issue of transport, making it easier and affordable for tourists to move from one corner to another.
Currently the Kenya to Entebbe flight is one of the most expensive routes ($200) in the world which makes many tourists choose to stay in Kenya, while other take the alternative of using buses.
The portal launch was attended by the third deputy prime minister Kirunda Kivejinja, Hon Godfrey Kiwanda and Dr Betty Addero the CEO Kenya Tourism Board among others.