POATE set for Uganda
- The Pan‑African Opportunities and Tourism Expo (POATE) will run May 21–23 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Uganda. (x.com) (x.com) - Early promos describe Uganda as a 'living showroom' for tourism, culture, and innovation in the region. (x.com) - The expo aims to attract buyers and investors while showcasing regional tour products and cultural offers. (x.com)
Uganda’s flagship tourism trade show is scheduled for May 21–23, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. (utb.go.ug) The event is the 10th Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, hosted by the Uganda Tourism Board under the theme “Wanderlust – It’s Your Time to Thrive.” Tourism Minister Tom Butime launched the 2026 edition in Kampala on November 14, 2025. (utb.go.ug) Uganda Tourism Board says the expo is built around buyers, exhibitors and trade visitors, with seminars, panels and business meetings aimed at tourism partnerships and sales. The official event site describes it as Uganda’s “premier tourism and travel marketplace” for global buyers, exhibitors, media and the public. (utb.go.ug) (poate.co.ug) The pitch is bigger than a convention hall. Uganda’s tourism agencies are using the expo to market the country’s wildlife, culture, cuisine and hospitality at a time when officials say they want stronger tourism-led economic growth. (utb.go.ug) (tourism.go.ug) That strategy follows the 2025 edition, which ran May 21–24 at the same Munyonyo venue under a different theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” Uganda’s tourism ministry said that event was designed to raise the country’s profile as a global destination by showcasing biodiversity, adventure travel and cultural heritage. (tourism.go.ug) POATE has been running for years as Uganda’s anchor tourism marketplace. Uganda Tourism Board says the expo was launched in 2014, and industry coverage describes 2026 as the 10th edition after the event expanded from a business-to-business showcase into a broader regional platform. (explorer.co.ug) (utb.go.ug) Officials and tourism marketers are also trying to sell Uganda as a base for regional travel, not only a single-country stop. Early POATE 2026 promotion frames the country as a showroom for East African tourism products, investment opportunities and cultural experiences. (utb.go.ug) (poate.co.ug) Registration is already open, with Uganda Tourism Board and partner sites inviting hosted buyers, exhibitors and delegates ahead of the May dates. The next test is whether the 2026 edition turns that sales pitch into signed deals, new routes and repeat visitors. (utb.go.ug) (showbizuganda.com)
