Emirates Partners With Mauritius And Uganda To Boost Inbound Tourism

Emirates Airline has reinforced its commitment to enhancing global tourism by renewing its partnership with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and forging a new alliance with the Uganda Tourism Board. These strategic collaborations, aimed at boosting inbound tourism to Mauritius and Uganda, were announced during the bustling ATM event, highlighting Emirates' packed schedule of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings and meetings with key industry stakeholders.

The renewal of the partnership with MTPA was officiated by Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Arvind Bundhun, Director of MTPA. This event was witnessed by notable figures including Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer at Emirates; Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President Passenger Sales and Country Management; and Donald Payen, Chairman of MTPA. Since initiating this partnership in 2012, Emirates has played a pivotal role in promoting Mauritius as a prime tourist destination, significantly contributing to the island's tourism economy through its passenger and cargo services.

Emirates' dedication to Mauritius since 2002 has been instrumental in achieving the country's tourism goals. With double daily A380 services, Emirates has the capacity to transport up to 1,000 tourists per day to the island. "We are fully committed to continuing our efforts to promote the destination to our global customers," stated Ahmed Khoory. Arvind Bundhun echoed this sentiment, expressing enthusiasm for the continued collaboration which has notably enhanced Mauritius' tourism sector by facilitating access from various global markets including the Middle East.

In a parallel development, Emirates has also partnered with the Uganda Tourism Board in a move set to elevate Uganda's status as a leading tourist destination. The MoU was signed by Badr Abbas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Africa at Emirates, and Lilly Ajarova, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board. This partnership underscores Emirates' dedication to showcasing Uganda’s rich natural landscapes and cultural heritage to the world.

"Uganda has been a key destination on our global network for over two decades," said Badr Abbas. He highlighted the airline's commitment to driving international travellers to experience Uganda’s diverse attractions. Lilly Ajarova remarked on the significance of this partnership in promoting Uganda as a competitive tourism destination, leveraging Emirates' extensive global network.

The collaboration between Emirates and the Uganda Tourism Board is set to identify key markets for promoting Uganda as an attractive tourism destination. The partners will work together on developing programmes for trade partners and marketing initiatives aimed at stimulating tourism bookings into Uganda. This partnership marks a significant step in Uganda’s tourism sector renaissance, aiming to increase international tourist arrivals and create employment opportunities in the country.

These strategic partnerships with Mauritius and Uganda underscore Emirates' ongoing commitment to supporting global tourism recovery efforts. By leveraging its extensive network and marketing capabilities, Emirates continues to play a crucial role in promoting international travel and enhancing the visibility of its partner countries as premier tourist destinations.

With inputs from WAM