Uganda to Host Canadian Tour Operators for Strategic Familiarization Tour
By our reporter
Uganda is set to host Canadian tour operators, travel agents and media influencers in a high-level familiarization (FAM) trip scheduled for April 9–18, 2026, as part of a deliberate strategy to deepen the country’s footprint in the North American tourism market and attract high-value international travelers.
The information was released by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA), which said the initiative is aimed at strengthening Uganda’s destination visibility, building partnerships with Canadian travel trade players and positioning the country as a competitive tourism destination in North America.
The decision was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Ministry of Tourism headquarters in Kampala, chaired by Commissioner Tourism Development Vivian Lyazi and attended by representatives from the Tourism Development Department, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Uganda’s Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Allan Kajik, presented the proposal, which was formally adopted, with preparatory activities now underway.
According to the Ministry, the familiarization visit is expected to showcase Uganda’s flagship tourism products, including wildlife and conservation experiences, cultural heritage, culinary tourism, adventure tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), while creating direct linkages between Canadian tour operators and Ugandan tourism businesses.
The Ministry says the initiative builds on growing tourism promotion efforts by Uganda’s High Commission in Ottawa, which has increasingly prioritized tourism marketing and engagement with Canadian travel stakeholders. Assistant Commissioner Tourism Development Jimmy Andrew Kigozi noted that the Canadian delegation is also expected to return in May 2026 to participate in the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE), Uganda’s leading tourism trade event.
The familiarization trip follows successful tourism promotion engagements in Canada, including a tourism roundtable held in December 2025 and the Canada–Uganda Business Forum in November 2025, which laid the foundation for deeper collaboration in tourism and investment.
The Ministry says the visit will not only promote Uganda’s tourism potential but also strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation, support the development of market-ready travel packages and increase tourist arrivals from Canada, while reinforcing Uganda’s destination branding in the North American market.
Tourism stakeholders believe targeting Canada is a strategic move, as North America remains one of the world’s most lucrative travel markets, with tourists known for longer stays, higher spending and interest in nature-based and conservation tourism — areas where Uganda holds a strong comparative advantage.
