Helping to market East African countries as a single tourist destination

In February 2016, Professor Marina Novelli was invited by the East Affrica Tourism Platform (EATP) to facilitate a discussion on ‘Steering East Africa as a Single and Competitive Destination’ at Kigali, Rwanda. The forum addressed questions on the feasibility and viability of East Africa as one tourism destination and the sense it makes to key tourism stakeholders. The aim was to understand common challenges and agree on strategies.

The discussions led to the identification of the next steps of the EATP initiative which is supported by Trademark East Africa.

Marina Novelli at the Rwanda conference

Professor Marina Novelli speaking at the EATP conference

East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP), established in July 2011, is a regional private sector body for tourism in East Africa, set up by TradeMark East Africa in 2011 after extensive consultations with tourism stakeholders, to facilitate active and focused engagement of the Private Sector in the East African Community (EAC) Regional Integration process.

EATP brings together the private sectors of Kenya, Uganda,

Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi and works closely with national ministries responsible for Tourism, Wildlife, Trade and Transport portfolios, the EAC Secretariat, East African Business Council and Private Sector Organisations in all EAC Partner states. It promotes intra and inter-regional tourism through advocacy, marketing, facilitating access to finance and risk management services, skills development, research and information sharing