Uganda Targets 20% Increase in Arrivals of Tourists from India

Uganda has set an ambitious target to increase tourist arrivals from India by at least 20% over the next two years as part of a renewed strategy to tap into one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets.

The move is a key driver in Uganda’s push to expand tourism and achieve its Vision 2040 goals.

Ugandan missions abroad have been tasked with supporting the government’s current strategic focus of growing the economy tenfold in the next 15 years in order to realize Uganda’s Vision 2040 — a vision of transforming the country from poverty and peasantry to prosperity and a modern, upper-middle-income status.

The government has identified four priority sectors to drive this tenfold growth. The sectors include agro-industrialization, tourism development, rural development (including oil and gas), and science, technology, and innovation (STI).

According to Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Joyce Kikafunda, the mission in New Delhi is engaging in all four priority areas but has prioritized tourism as the top sector to promote between Uganda and India.

The mission, Kikafunda said, has since set the target to increase tourist arrivals from India by 20% in the next two years.

“Our goal is to leverage our presence in India to increase tourist arrivals from India by at least 20% over the next two years. We will do this through targeted tourism promotion, partnerships, and investment facilitation in tourism infrastructure,” she said.

Ambassador Kikafunda was speaking to reporters about the familiarization trip on trade and tourism for tour agents from India as a way of promoting tourism and leveraging its potential to grow Uganda’s economy to USD 500 billion by 2040.

Setting eyes on India is a great move to grow Uganda’s tourism industry and other sectors, given the South Asian giant’s undoubted potential.

India is home to the largest population in the world, with approximately 1.5 billion people, and is the 5th largest economy globally, with a thriving middle class and growing disposable incomes.

An estimated 19.5 million Indians will travel abroad this year alone.

India currently ranks highest in tourist arrivals to Uganda outside East Africa, with 37,000 annual arrivals.

By 2030, India is projected to be the number one global spender on tourism, at USD 14 billion.

Uganda is abundantly blessed by nature. It is a country rich in biodiversity, stunning landscapes, welcoming people, and unique attractions — all of which appeal to even the most discerning of travelers.

However, the country has not done enough to market and showcase this extraordinary beauty to the world.

“That must now change,” said Ambassador Kikafunda.

In January this year, the High Commission in New Delhi, in partnership with Uganda Airlines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), and private tour operators, participated in the Outbound Travel Market (OTM) in Mumbai — one of Asia’s largest travel expos.

Uganda was awarded the Most Promising New Destination at the event.

This, Kiakafunda said, was a big win for the country and a testament to the growing interest in Uganda as a tourism hotspot.

The second secretary at the Indian High Commission to Uganda, Jitender Singh Negi, said that Indian tourists visiting Uganda annually could increase significantly if Uganda continues its strategic efforts and hard work to promote tourism.

“India stands ready to support Uganda in this journey. We are committed to promoting two-way tourism, people-to-people ties, and trade,” Jitender said.

He added Uganda’s tourism potential must be better marketed, both in India and globally.

“I visited Masai Mara, Murchison Falls, and the Palace in Hoima recently. In places like Masai Mara, you may spend days driving through the savannah to see wildlife. But in Uganda, you can enjoy game drives, majestic waterfalls, and boat rides on the Nile—all in a single day. That’s a unique and powerful selling point.” Jitender

said.

“Uganda truly offers diverse experiences in a compact and beautiful landscape. This is something worth broadcasting widely,” he added.

The Director of International and Regional Economic Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Elly Kamahungye, said Uganda’s tourism sector must scale to USD 40 billion in value, adding that India is a key partner in achieving that.

“If we attract even 5 million Indian tourists, we can realize two-thirds of that target. That’s the power of strategic focus,” he said.

He added, “India remains one of Uganda’s most strategic and trusted partners. We must continue leveraging this goodwill to unlock mutual prosperity and transform the lives of our people.”