Uganda to host Coffee Tourism Expo
Stephen Asiimwe, the CEO, Uganda Tourism Board addressing journalists at Media Center on November 27
Coffee Tourism Uganda in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture is set to host the first ever Coffee Tourism expo. The 3-day expo which will be held at the Kampala Serena will run from 14th to 16th December, 2018.
Coffee Tourism Uganda, in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and the Uganda Local Government Association, organizes the first ever Coffee Tourism expo.
The 3-day expo which will be held at the Kampala Serena will run from 14th to 16th December, 2018. The theme of the coffee expo is ‘Unlocking Uganda’s coffee industry potential.’
Rwandan Coffee
The objective of the event is to bring together key stakeholders in the coffee and tourism industry to discuss key issues concerning cash crops and the strategies of making it a success.
According to official records, coffee contributes around 24 per cent of Uganda’s total export earnings, making it a biggest third foreign exchange earner. Meanwhile, tourism provides aourd 10 per cent to the GDP of Uganda.
The organizers said that coffee tourism involves linking coffee farmers to consumers under a farm-to-cup approach, with consumers touring farms and sharing their experience with the farmers. The feedback from the tourists would aid efforts geared towards increased production and quality output of coffee and hence boost returns.
“Bringing consumers to the farms and ensuring they have all the amenities they need in terms of transport, accommodation and on-farm experiences will encourage incremental earnings as farmers and those in the hospitality and tourism industries gain prominence due to global exposure,” said Stephen Asiimwe, the CEO of UTB.
Renowned coffee and tourism expert, Glenn Jampol, the President and co-owner of Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort and a renowned international sustainable tourism expert from Costa Rica and Judy Kepher-Gona among other travel and tourism experts will be part of the participants at the symposium.
