As of 2015 Uganda will be host country for the Africa Birding Expo, a new concept developed by members of Uganda Safari Guides, the umbrella association of all those involved in tourism in the country.
Herbert Byaruhanga, the President of Uganda Safari Guides Association, says they developed the concept of Africa Birding Expo after realizing that there is a great potential for the industry to grow. He says Uganda with more than half the bird species in Africa is best suited to host the expo. The expo will bring birders from the continent, Europe, Asia, Americas and Australia, and will be a great opportunity for Ugandan tourism to benefit from the unique product the country has. It will also be used to promote business opportunities between the local birding companies and their foreign counterparts.
The USAGA President says in the last 14 years, the birding industry has grown, with training of over 100 bird guides and site guides. He says with increase in visibility of birding, Uganda is bound to benefit. He says birders are some of the tourists who spend the longest time and spend more money than the rest. Uganda has about 1600 different bird species. It is home to more than half the bird species in African and represents about 40 percent of the global bird species.
USAGA is enlisting the services of experienced organizers of such expos from other continents to organize a perfect event. The first expo is slated for November next year and thereafter every year.
