Uganda to host second African bird expo
While addressing journalists in Kampala last week, Mr Herbert Byaruhanga, the deputy executive director Uganda Tourism Association, said the first expo in 2016 attracted more than 25 international birders with 70 per cent from the USA.
What you need to know:
- Describing this years’s expo as one of its kind, Mr Byaruhanga revealed that the event will comprise of activities such as gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, and game viewing.
- Ms Jean Byamugisha, the executive director of Uganda Hotel Owners Association, said despite the recent reported deaths of foreigners in Ugandan hotels, their facilities are safe and homely.
Uganda is set to host the second annual birding expo targeting tourism revenue of $1.4 billion dollars (about Shs3.6 trillion).
The expo scheduled for December 7 to 9th is expected to attract bird-watching community from the entire universe.
While addressing journalists in Kampala last week, Mr Herbert Byaruhanga, the deputy executive director Uganda Tourism Association, said the first expo in 2016 attracted more than 25 international birders with 70 per cent from the USA.
“This expo is expected to generate more than $10 million revenue for Uganda. A survey by our experts indicates that seven birding trips have been booked for 2018 and 2019,” Mr Byaruhanga said.
Mr Byaruhanga said the survey by Caribbean Tourism Organisations shows growth in bird watching is expected to attract more revenue in the next 10 years.
He revealed that Uganda currently has 1,078 bird species representing 10 per cent of global total specie population and about 50 per cent of Africa’s total bird species.He added that the country has 100 trained bird guides.
Describing this years’s expo as one of its kind, Mr Byaruhanga revealed that the event will comprise of activities such as gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, and game viewing.
Ms Jean Byamugisha, the executive director of Uganda Hotel Owners Association, said despite the recent reported deaths of foreigners in Ugandan hotels, their facilities are safe and homely.
“It is unfortunate to experience such tragedies at the time when our country is heavily investing in marketing itself as one of the finest tourism destinations in Africa,” she said.
PAST EXPO
The 2016 African Birding Expo was held in Uganda on November 18 to 20 at Botanical Gardens in Entebbe. According to Mr Herbert Byaruhanga, the deputy executive director of Uganda Tourism Association, the 2016 expo attracted more than 25 international birders with 70 per cent from the USA.
