Kenya, Uganda tourism players seek cheaper travel ahead of AFCON 2027

Kenya, Uganda tourism players seek cheaper travel ahead of AFCON 2027

The minister also proposed extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa towards Kampala and exploring water transport between destinations such as Entebbe and Kisumu to provide alternatives for travellers.

Tourism stakeholders from Kenya and Uganda have called for lower airfares and the removal of cross-border travel restrictions, warning that high transport costs could prevent East Africans and international visitors from exploring the region during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The industry players said expensive flights, taxes and other travel requirements were limiting movement between the two countries, despite growing visitor numbers and opportunities to market East Africa as a single tourism destination.

Speaking at the ongoing fifth Uganda–Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit in Mombasa, Uganda’s Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Susan Nakawuki Nsambu, said the cost of air travel remained a major obstacle to regional tourism.

She said travelling between Entebbe and destinations within East Africa could cost as much as journeys to Europe, putting air transport beyond the reach of many potential travellers.

“We have not made air travel affordable to our people, and we are curtailing tourism like that,” she said.

Nakawuki said many East Africans wanted to visit neighbouring countries but were discouraged by high fares, which had made flying an option mainly for those who could afford it.

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She urged governments to examine the policies and charges that make regional travel expensive, arguing that improved connections would allow more people to visit destinations across East Africa.

The minister also proposed extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa towards Kampala and exploring water transport between destinations such as Entebbe and Kisumu to provide alternatives for travellers.

She questioned why citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states continued to face what she described as unnecessary hurdles when crossing borders, despite regional commitments to facilitate the movement of people.

Article 104 of the EAC Treaty provides for the movement of people, labour and services within the regional bloc.

Nakawuki urged partner states to address non-tariff barriers that complicate travel, saying smoother movement would benefit tourism businesses and local economies.

The calls come as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania prepare to co-host AFCON 2027, an event expected to bring football supporters and other visitors into the region.

Nakawuki said the three host countries should use the tournament to encourage visitors to explore attractions beyond the stadiums, including Kenya’s beaches and wildlife parks and Uganda’s gorilla trekking and adventure tourism.

She said the economic benefits would depend partly on whether visitors extended their stays and spent money on other activities rather than travelling solely to watch matches.

The minister also backed joint efforts to market East Africa as one tourism destination, saying Kenya and Uganda should complement each other rather than compete for visitors.

She called for a single tourism visa for Africa and greater cooperation in promoting destinations, particularly when health concerns or other incidents in one country risk affecting perceptions of the wider region.

Nakawuki said some tourists had cancelled trips to Kenya following a reported Ebola case, despite what she described as the country's effective handling of the incident.

She also urged Kenyan political leaders to maintain stability as the country approaches the 2027 General Election, warning that political tensions could undermine tourism and economic activity during a period of major international sporting events.

Uganda's Consul General in Mombasa, Ambassador Herbert Kiguli, also called on the two countries to tackle travel restrictions and other requirements that make cross-border visits difficult.

He singled out the yellow fever vaccination requirement for review, adding to calls for governments to examine procedures affecting regional travellers.

Tour Operators Society of Kenya chairman Raymond Cheruiyot said the two countries needed to review policies and charges that increase the cost of travelling between them.

He called for closer cooperation between the Kenya and Uganda tourism boards to promote multi-country holidays that combine attractions in both destinations.

“We need to realise that we are in East Africa. Being in East Africa means we are one team. All the bottlenecks that come along with policies and all that need to be eliminated,” he said.

Tourism operators said joint marketing could encourage visitors to spend more time in the region, benefiting tour companies, hotels, transport providers and other businesses.

Figures from the two countries' tourism agencies indicate that cross-border travel is already growing.

The number of Ugandan visitors to Kenya increased from 201,623 in 2024 to 234,556 in 2025, according to the Kenya Tourism Board, making Uganda Kenya's second-largest source market.

Meanwhile, the Uganda Tourism Board recorded an increase in Kenyan visitors from 466,902 in 2024 to 519,041 in 2025.

The figures point to growing demand for travel between the two countries, although tourism stakeholders say high transport costs and other barriers continue to limit the market's potential.

The two-day summit has brought together government officials and tourism, technology and investment stakeholders to discuss ways of addressing policy barriers and improving regional mobility.

The meeting is being held under the theme “Unlocking Tourism Opportunities: Resolving Policy Bottlenecks through Technology, Youth and Seamless Mobility across East Africa”.

Delegates are also reviewing the implementation of regional commitments on the free movement of people and services, alongside digital tourism initiatives developed by young innovators from Kenya and Uganda.