UTB partners ICPA Uganda to promote tourism
Mar 28, 2017
The conference is take place between the 2nd – 5th of May, 2017 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo
Uganda Tourism Board has announced a partnership with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants Uganda (ICPAU) through which the two agencies seek to promote Uganda's tourism potential to delegates of the forthcoming 4th Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA 2017).
ACOA is an international event held after every two years that brings together professional accountants and business leaders from the African continent and beyond. The conference is take place between the 2nd - 5th of May, 2017 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala under the theme: "Accountancy and Accountability: Transforming Africa's Economies.
Over 1,200 delegates majorly from Africa are expected at the conference that shall last almost a week. Previous editions of the conference were held in Ghana and Mauritius in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
"We partnered with ICPAU in ensuring that while the delegates are in Uganda, they get the best out of the event before, during and after the conference," Stephen Asiimwe, UTB's chief executive officer said at Uganda Media Centre.
The partnership is under the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) initiative where UTB negotiates with different stakeholders to offer services to delegates of such meeting at subsidized prices.
Asiimwe said such a gathering conference provides an opportunity of boosting networking, international trade, trade in service, partnerships and other components as the link between conference, tourism and the economy is very critical since it brings in money to the country the hospitality and transport industries.
"There shall be a chance to visit some of our historical sites. We are working with KCCA to have a city tour for the delegates experiencing the city's night life through the Kampala by night initiative," he also said.
"We have sampled some of the strategic tourist sites like the Ngamba Island, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Source of the Nile, national parks and other historical sites," Asiimwe added.
Uganda has 10 Game parks & 12 Game reserves and many sanctuaries, something we believe the delegates will enjoy, said Asiimwe.
Tourism has grown to become Uganda's top foreign exchange earner fetching US$1.3 billion (sh4.6 trillion) which is about 10% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), and about 23% of total exports revenue income in 2016 alone, according to Asiimwe.
"ICPAU believes that a partnership with UTB to host the ACOA 2017 is an opportunity to showcase Uganda's tourism potential. As a public interest organisation, it is our responsibility as ICPAU to facilitate efforts of promoting the Pearl of Africa," said Protazio Begumisa, the ICPAU president.
The conference will be graced by former chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who will deliver the keynote address, Rachel Grimes, president of the International Federation of Accountants and Asmaa Resmouki, the president of the Pan African Federation of Accountants.