Kampala, Uganda: Uganda has been crowned the Best Exquisite Destination at the 2026 Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) in Mumbai, India, marking a major boost for the country’s tourism promotion efforts in the Asian market.
The award was presented during the OTM 2026 exhibition, held from February 5–7 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, and was received by Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Joyce Kikafunda, who led the official Ugandan delegation.
Uganda’s participation was coordinated by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), with the delegation led by UTB Board Directors Margaret Arach Ojara and Vincent Operemo, alongside the Board’s technical team.
Other stakeholders included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Airlines, and private sector tourism operators.
UTB Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kagwa said Uganda’s presence at OTM had already yielded tangible results. “Discussions with Indian tour operators, agents and media have led to new collaborations aimed at promoting Uganda through joint initiatives. We expect significant growth in arrivals from the Asian market,” Kagwa said.
Vincent Operemo, who also serves as Strategic Planning Manager at the National Planning Authority, said the recognition aligns with Uganda’s long-term development goals.
“This award speaks directly to Vision 2040, which positions tourism as a key driver of foreign exchange earnings, employment and inclusive growth,” Operemo noted, linking the success to government priorities under the Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral-Based Industrialisation and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS) framework.
Showcasing the Pearl of Africa
OTM, South Asia’s largest travel trade exhibition, attracted more than 50,000 industry professionals and over 2,200 exhibitors from more than 60 countries. Uganda’s stand highlighted the country’s diverse tourism offering, including wildlife safaris, cultural heritage and adventure tourism.
Ambassador Kikafunda praised “Team Uganda” for the strong showing. “This award underscores Uganda’s distinctive offerings in authentic African tourism and supports the government’s broader objectives for sustainable economic development,” she said.
Tourism contributes about 7.3 percent of Uganda’s GDP and supports over 1.5 million jobs. In the 2024/2025 financial year, international arrivals rose by 15 percent, generating $1.2 billion in revenue as the sector continued its post-pandemic recovery.
Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, a key attraction that continues to anchor its global tourism appeal.
The OTM award adds to a growing list of international accolades, including Best in Show – Africa at the January 2026 Travel & Adventure Expo in New York, reinforcing Uganda’s aggressive destination marketing drive.
With a target of 2.5 million annual visitors by 2030, Uganda is increasingly focusing on diversifying source markets, particularly in Asia.
Known globally as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda says the OTM 2026 recognition represents a pivotal step in elevating its international tourism profile.
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