Ugandan tour operators upbeat to showcase at Russia's LET’S TRAVEL expo
More than 10 Ugandan tour operators are attending the tourism forum. Part of their costs to attend the expo were covered by Uganda's Embassy in Russia.
Moses Kizige, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the Russian Federation, interacts with people visiting the Uganda stall during the Let's travel International Expo in Moscow, on June 10, 2026. (Photos by Hajarah Nalwadda)
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Ugandan tour operators are in Moscow, Russia, to showcase the East African country's tourism potential at the five-day International Tourism Forum dubbed ‘Let’s Travel!’. The expo brings together global players in the tourism industry and a broad audience of travellers.
More than 10 Ugandan tour operators are attending the tourism forum. Part of their costs to attend the expo were covered by Uganda's Embassy in Russia.
Betty Mbaho of Emburara Safaris and Emburara Lodges told New Vision that the Russian market is important to Uganda because it has luxury travellers, who are ready to explore Africa.
"I am here to get different clients from Moscow. Some have already picked interest in coming and visiting our lodges," Mbaho said.
Resty Mbabazi, the chief executive officer of Avents Safaris, said the travel expo is critical because it provides them an opportunity to forge partnerships with Russian tour agents, with a possibility to sign up walk-in clients.
Ugandans participating in the matching parade during the Let's travel International Expo in Moscow, on June 10, 2026. 
"We are here to tell Russia about Uganda and trust me, it is going to be very successful because they are ready to buy," said Mbabazi, who was clad in traditional Batoro attire, highlighting part of Uganda's cultural dressing.
"I have had Russian clients before, and I must say this is going to be an add-on to what I have been selling," she added.
Eric Kizige, the director of Nabigaga Tours and Travel, said that although he has attended other tourism expos in Russia, this was his first time attending the ‘Let’s Travel!’ tourism forum.
Gideon Rutazindwa, the deputy ambassador of Uganda to Russia, said the expo is located in one of Moscow's largest parks that attracts over half a million people every week.
Rutazindwa is optimistic that by the end of the expo, the Ugandan pavilion would have attracted over a million people.
He said the 'Lets Travel' tourism forum is the largest summer tourism event that attracts Russian travel enthusiasts.
"For us, it is not in our national interest to avoid Russia, because Russia is a huge country with tens of billions of dollars to spend every month. So, why should we miss that market?" the deputy ambassador said when asked about some countries abandoning Russia because of the Western sanctions.