Uganda Receives Canadian Travel Delegation For a 10 day Strategic Familiarization Trip
By Our Reporter
The Uganda High Commission in Ottawa, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda Tourism Board, and private sector players, has officially received a delegation of Canadian travel journalists, tour operators and influencers in a high-level familiarization trip aimed at positioning the country as a preferred destination in the North American market, marking a significant step in deepening tourism and diplomatic ties between Uganda and Canada.
The initiative brings together a delegation of about 15 professionals from Canadian travel agencies and media platforms, who arrived at Entebbe International Airport on April 8 to begin a 10-day tour running until April 18.
The group kicked off a 10-day tourism mission designed to showcase Uganda’s diverse attractions and strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation between the two countries, which already enjoy cordial relations.
The familiarization trip is expected to generate extensive media coverage across Canada and North America through travel magazines, digital platforms, and tour operator networks.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Vancouver-based senior travel journalist Lucas Aykroyd appreciated the opportunity to return to Uganda and witness its beauty first-hand.
“I visited in 2019 and saw gorillas and chimps. It’s a beautiful country. I expect to see incredible wildlife again. Magazines across Canada will write about it. I have been to Egypt, South Africa, and many other destinations, but Uganda has it all,” he said.
The visit aligns with Uganda’s broader strategy to diversify tourism markets beyond traditional European and regional sources, according to the acting Commissioner for Tourism Development at the Ministry of Tourism, Vivian Lyazi.
“We are working to diversify from our traditional markets and open up new ones to encourage more people to explore the destinations in Uganda,” he noted.
Officials revealed that Uganda received about 3,900 Canadian tourists in 2023, a number that rose to 9,688 in 2025, with the government now targeting 200,000 Canadian visitors in 2027 through aggressive marketing and strategic partnerships.
North America, particularly the United States and Canada, is increasingly being viewed as a premium tourism market for Uganda, with travelers from the region known for longer stays, higher spending, and a strong interest in wildlife, eco-tourism, and authentic cultural experiences. The ongoing Canadian travel delegation familiarization trip therefore comes at a strategic moment, as Uganda deepens ties with North America to position itself as a top sustainable tourism destination, with the Uganda Tourism Board intensifying targeted marketing, partnerships with tour operators, and immersive field experiences aimed at converting high-value travelers into long-term ambassadors of the Pearl of Africa, ultimately boosting tourism revenue, conservation funding, and global visibility for Uganda’s unique natural and cultural heritage.
Acting Head of Mission at the Uganda High Commission in Ottawa, Amb. Allan Kajik emphasized that tourism remains one of the key missions of Uganda’s diplomatic engagement with Canada, noting that direct exposure to Uganda’s attractions will turn the visiting journalists and influencers into tourism ambassadors.
The familiarization trip begins with religious and cultural tourism experiences at Namugongo Martyrs Shrines, followed by visits to Gaddafi National Mosque and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kasubi Tombs.
The delegation will then travel to southwestern Uganda for mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park before proceeding to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive and a boat cruise along the iconic Kazinga Channel.
Other highlights include, among others, adventure tourism at the Source of the Nile and potential investment opportunities such as a proposed cable line installation in the Rwenzori Mountains by one of the visiting guests.
The trip will conclude on April 18 with a visit to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (UWEC) before the delegation departs for Canada.
Tourism officials say the initiative is expected to translate into increased bookings, partnerships with Canadian tour operators, and sustained media visibility for Uganda’s tourism sector.
