The Uganda Embassy in Ankara, in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and selected Ugandan tour and travel companies, has successfully conducted the Explore Uganda Tourism Roadshows in Gaziantep and Istanbul as part of efforts to position Uganda as a leading tourism destination in the Turkish market.
The roadshows, held in Gaziantep on June 16, 2026, and Istanbul on June 18, 2026, attracted more than 400 Turkish tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, travel agents, investors, influencers, media representatives, and tourism enthusiasts.
The initiative forms part of Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy aimed at strengthening tourism and business ties between Uganda and Türkiye while increasing visitor numbers from the Turkish market.
Speaking in Istanbul, Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu, said each event attracted more than 200 participants, reflecting growing interest among Turkish travellers in Uganda’s tourism offerings.
“This strong turnout highlights the increasing interest among Turkish travellers and stakeholders in discovering Uganda’s unique attractions,” Tiperu said.
The roadshows followed a successful Familiarisation (FAM) Trip to Uganda organised for Turkish tour operators from April 25 to May 2, 2026. The trip provided participants with first-hand experience of Uganda’s tourism attractions and investment opportunities.
According to Ambassador Tiperu, tourism remains an important pillar of Uganda–Türkiye relations and the roadshows support the implementation of the 2016 Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between the two countries.
She reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to promoting Uganda’s tourism potential and fostering stronger partnerships between stakeholders in both nations.
During the events, Ugandan tour operators held Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings with Turkish counterparts aimed at establishing commercial partnerships and expanding market access.
The Uganda Tourism Board's Marketing Manager, Francis Nyende, showcased Uganda’s diverse tourism products, including mountain gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, adventure tourism, birdwatching, cultural heritage experiences, and the country's tourism brand, “Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.”
A key highlight of the roadshows was the participation of Hüseyin Kurt, Managing Director of GlobeMeets International Tourism Marketing Company, who underscored the vast potential of Türkiye’s outbound tourism market.
Kurt pledged support for Uganda’s efforts to position itself among Africa’s premier tourism destinations and expressed commitment to promoting Uganda’s tourism experiences to Turkish travellers.
The events also featured testimonials from Turkish travel industry players who have previously visited Uganda.
Among them was travel influencer Çağatay Özdemir, who has more than 1.3 million Instagram followers. Sharing his experience, Özdemir described Uganda as a destination offering authentic cultural and experiential tourism opportunities.
He identified gorilla trekking as the highlight of his visit and encouraged Turkish travellers to consider Uganda for future holidays, citing its breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, warm hospitality, and rich cultural heritage.
The Istanbul Roadshow concluded with a raffle draw organised in partnership with Turkish Airlines, where two participants won return air tickets to Uganda.
The initiative generated excitement among attendees and further strengthened collaboration between Uganda’s tourism promotion efforts and industry partners. The winners expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to experience Uganda’s renowned attractions firsthand.
Officials said the successful conclusion of the Gaziantep and Istanbul roadshows is expected to increase awareness of Uganda as a tourism destination in Türkiye, strengthen partnerships between Ugandan and Turkish tourism stakeholders, and contribute to increased tourist arrivals from the Turkish market.