Uganda Adopts EAC 10-Year Harmonised Tourism Classification Designs Ahead of AFCON 2027 as Col. Butime Advocates for Single Tourist Visa to Boost Regional Tourism.

Abraham Lincolns | Arusha

Uganda has joined the East African Community (EAC) member countries to harmonise tourism policies,
licensing requirements and service quality standards to strengthen regional competitiveness and market
the bloc as a single tourism destination.

The decision was reached at the 13th EAC Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management, which
concluded at ministerial level in Arusha on October 15, 2026, after four days of discussions.

The meeting brought together ministers responsible for tourism and wildlife management from EAC
Partner States to develop joint strategies for promoting sustainable tourism, improving service quality
and increasing economic benefits from the region’s tourism resources.

Opening the meeting, Zanzibar Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock,
Suleiman Masoud Makame, said tourism success depends not only on the region’s attractions but also
on service quality, visitors’ experiences and joint marketing by member states. The agreement comes as Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda prepare to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027.

The tournament is expected to provide an opportunity to promote the three countries’ attractions and
raise the profile of East Africa in international tourism markets.

Hotels, transport companies, tour guides, food service providers, artists and small and medium-sized
enterprises are also expected to benefit from economic activities associated with the tournament.
The meeting chaired by Uganda’s Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. Tom Butime,
identified five priorities for accelerating tourism development: strengthening conservation across shared ecosystems, harmonising tourism classification standards, improving tourism statistics, advancing the
proposed Single Tourist Visa and enhancing joint marketing and branding.

The strategy put line ministers together and adopted the “Visit East Africa: Feel the Vibe” brand
framework to market the region as a single, competitive destination from 2027 to 2036 where all the
partner states agreed to utilize the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya,
and Tanzania) to create multi-destination tourism packages and attract global visitors.

The council urged member states to harmonized hotel grading and classification standards and
strengthening wildlife management across shared ecosystems such as Kidepo, Mount Elgon, Kagera, and
the Virungas.