Uganda and Kenya are pushing for the removal of cross-border travel barriers between the two countries ahead of the 5th Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit set for October 26 and 27, 2026, in Mombasa.
Speaking during the media launch, Uganda’s Consul General to Kenya, Amb. Herbert Kiguli, said the annual event, themed “unlocking tourism opportunities and resolving policy bottlenecks through technology, youth, and seamless mobility across East Africa,” would bring together policymakers from both countries to address obstacles hindering tourism growth in the region.
Amb. Kiguli identified immigration procedures at points of entry as one of the key challenges facing travelers between the two countries, saying tourists were still required to declare the length of their stay despite both nations belonging to the East African Community.
“Article 104 of the East African Community Treaty, which provides for free movement of people and goods across the region, has remained largely unimplemented, with Member States maintaining barriers that continue to affect tourist movement and growth,” said Kiguli.
The envoy also cited high air travel costs as a major obstacle, proposing that the region be treated as a single block for aviation purposes to eliminate international taxes and lower fares between Uganda and Kenya.
He further pointed to challenges in mobile money transactions, noting that Ugandan visitors were often unable to access Safaricom lines upon arrival in Kenya, limiting their ability to transact using cashless platforms such as M-PESA.
“Despite the challenges, cross-border tourism numbers had continued to grow. Kenyans travelling to Uganda rose by over 100,000 between 2024 and 2025, while Ugandans visiting the Kenyan Coast increased from about 170,000 to 260,000 over the same period,” added Amb. Kiguli.
He projected that by the end of 2026, the numbers would rise above 600,000 for Kenyans travelling to Uganda and above 400,000 for Ugandans travelling to Kenya.
The envoy noted that Uganda remained the second largest source market for tourists visiting Kenya, while Kenya was the top source market for Uganda, adding that the two countries planned to formalize collaboration between tour operators and travel agents through Memoranda of Understanding.
Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) Coast Region Chairman, Patrick Kamanga, said the lack of a regional tourism Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was hampering efforts to package multi-country itineraries for visitors seeking to tour Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania on a single-entry permit.
Kamanga also decried high airfares, saying a one-way ticket between Mombasa and Entebbe could cost as much as 800 US dollars, compared to about 50 US dollars for similar distances in Europe.
“Airlines should lower fares to boost passenger numbers on regional routes, including Mombasa-Kigali and Mombasa-Dar-es-Salaam; I commend some local carriers for introducing competitive fares on the Mombasa-Dar-es-Salaam route,” said Kamanga.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), Executive Officer and Mombasa Tourism Council Chairman, Dr. Sam Ikwaye, said the Summit would focus on improving air access to the Coast region and advancing an Open Skies Policy to allow tourists to visit both countries on a single visa.
Dr. Ikwaye said the summit would also address hotel classification and grading standards across the region, noting that the Tourism Regulatory Authority had reviewed criteria to align regional hospitality standards with international benchmarks.
He raised concern over the impact of political activities on tourism in the region, saying election periods in East African countries had previously disrupted travel and investor confidence, and called for dialogue with policymakers to shield the sector from political disruptions.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism, and Culture, Mohamed Osman, said the county was targeting five million international tourist arrivals by 2027, with Uganda ranked as its second largest source market.
Osman also cited the high cost of flights between Entebbe and Mombasa, currently ranging between 600 and 700 US dollars, as a barrier to achieving the target, and said the county was banking on the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to improve connectivity between Mombasa and Uganda.
“Mombasa County will host World Tourism Day celebrations from September 26 to 30, 2026, featuring cultural activities, a tuk-tuk rally, and beach sports events aimed at boosting tourist traffic to the region. We call on our East Africa Community neighbors to come and explore our country,” said Osman.
By Andrew Hinga
