East African Regional Tourism Expo kicked off in Burundi, signaling new development of joint tourism in East Africa as single tourist bloc.
With a theme of “Rethinking Tourism for Social Economic Development in the East African Community,” the week long East African Regional Tourism Expo (EARTE) second edition has attracted over 250 exhibitors from over 10 African countries, 120 international and regional travel agents, and buyers with about 2,500 trade visitors.
Launched last year by the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in Tanzania, the main objective of the regional tourism marketing and promotional platform is to promote EAC member countries as a single tourism destination.
Second edition of the EARTE kicked off with the registration of exhibitors and a networking event on September 23, 2022, to be followed by three days of exhibitions, seminars, and investment to be taking from September 24 to 26 at Cercle Hippique de Bujumbura grounds and World Tourism Day (WTD) Celebrations on September 27.
The hosted buyers comprising international travel agents and travel trade partners will participate familiarization trips to different tourist sites in Burundi from September 27 to 30 before ending the event.
The EAC Secretariat said through its statement from its headquarters in Tanzania that the Second Edition of the EARTE was officially opened by the Burundi Vice President Prosper Bazombanza on behalf of Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye
The theme for this year is “Rethinking Tourism for Social Economic Development in the East African Community”, resonating with the United Nations World Tourism Day commitment to campaign for tourism destinations.
This year’s UNWTO Day also encourage stakeholders around the world to remodel tourism following the devastating impact of COVID-19 pandemic which had adversely affected the tourism sector globally.
