Could Exploring East Africa Become Easier?
For many international travellers, an East African journey rarely stops at one border.
A safari in Kenya may be paired with gorilla trekking in Uganda, a beach stay on the Kenyan coast, or another experience elsewhere in the region.
Yet moving between destinations can still be more complicated — and more expensive — than travellers expect.
Kenya and Uganda are now putting that issue firmly on the agenda ahead of the 5th Uganda–Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit, scheduled for 26–27 October 2026 in Mombasa.
The summit is expected to bring together policymakers and tourism stakeholders to discuss some of the practical barriers affecting movement between the two countries.
Among the issues highlighted are immigration procedures, air connectivity, the cost of regional flights and even challenges around mobile payments for visitors moving between countries.
One of the broader ambitions being discussed is a more seamless East African tourism experience — where travellers can combine different destinations without unnecessary friction between each stage of the journey.
That matters because the region’s tourism products naturally complement one another.
Kenya offers experiences ranging from the Maasai Mara and Nairobi to its Indian Ocean coastline, while Uganda brings its own wildlife, landscapes and mountain-gorilla experiences. Rather than viewing these destinations purely as competitors, tourism leaders are increasingly discussing how they can be marketed as parts of a wider East African journey.
There are signs that travellers are already thinking this way.
Officials at the summit’s media launch said cross-border tourism between Kenya and Uganda continues to grow, with movement in both directions increasing between 2024 and 2025.
However, connectivity remains one of the biggest challenges.
Stakeholders have pointed to the cost of flights between the two countries and called for greater regional cooperation on aviation, while also discussing the possibility of making it easier for visitors to travel through multiple East African destinations on a single trip.
For travellers — and for those of us who help people experience this part of the world — the direction is encouraging.
Because an East African journey should ultimately feel connected.
The easier it becomes to move between the region’s landscapes, cultures and experiences, the easier it becomes for visitors to discover just how much East Africa has to offer.
