In a bid to promote development and cultural exchanges, Uganda and China held a tourism symposium in the capital Kampala, attracting hundreds of attendees.
The first of its kind, the Tuesday symposium was held under the theme, “Bridging Cultures, Enhancing Cooperation: Unlocking Uganda-China Tourism Potential.”
Dubbed the Uganda-China Tourism and Cultural Symposium, the event brought together government officials, tourism industry stakeholders, and tour operators from Uganda, China, and the East African region.
Tom Butime, the minister of tourism, wildlife and antiquities highlighting the vast opportunities for Uganda and China to collaborate in boosting tourism.
“Uganda places great importance on the Chinese market, which represents a valuable opportunity to grow our tourism sector. China’s rich cultural heritage and rapidly growing outbound tourism make it a natural partner for us as we strive to develop new tourism products,” Butime said.
According to the minister, both Uganda and China could “tap the potential of their cultural heritage and scenic attractions to advance the development of the two countries.”
He also said the east African country was eager to tap into China’s booming outbound tourism market, “drawing inspiration from China’s successful domestic tourism strategies while exploring investment opportunities in the sector”.
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, expressed optimism, saying the symposium represented a significant milestone in the Uganda-China cooperation within the tourism sector.
“Despite different traditions, both countries share a vision of integrating history, culture, and modern civilization into tourism development,” Zhang said.
“China is willing to work with Uganda closely to deepen tourism cooperation, tap the potentials of tourism in promoting social economic transformation, and encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Uganda to further enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges,” the diplomat added.
