The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has been recognised as the best national tourism agency at the second Pearl of Africa Tourism expo that closed in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday. RDB was among the regional tourism promotion bodies that exhibited products at the annual expo.

The expo was organised by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and brings together regional travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, destination managers and other service providers in the tourism sector.

The RDB stand was decorated in the national flag’s blue, yellow and green colours.

"This is an opportunity for the tourism business operators to meet new clients, network, market their products and discuss business partnerships that would make the tourism sector in the region a success,” said Edward Sekandi, Uganda’s Vice President in his opening remarks at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday.

For Frank Mugambage, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, the expo falls in the bigger vision by regional leaders of promoting East Africa as a single tourist destination.

"Our region is endowed with a lot of resources. This is an opportunity to learn from each other and continue promoting the region as a single tourist destination,” he said shortly after touring different stalls.

Gertrude Majyambere, the executive director of the Rwanda Tours and Travel Association (RTTA), said; "Rwandan tour operators should go beyond exchanging business cards and engage in real business. Although there is competition, every country is unique in terms of what it has to offer.”

Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda Richard Kabonero noted that there has been an increase in visas offered as well as cross-border trade since the Single Tourism Visa was launched last year.

"When we market the region jointly, it becomes cheaper. We still have a challenge though on infrastructure…..We should have seamless borders with high speed and no delays in clearing people,” he said.

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