Business
Uganda Airlines, UTB Partner to Promote Tourism at OTM-Bombay 2025
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Uganda High Commission in New Delhi, in partnership with Uganda Airlines and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), will participate in the prestigious Outbound Travel Market (OTM). OTM, a leading travel trade show in India, is scheduled to take place from January 30 to February 2, 2025, at the JIO World Convention Center in Mumbai.
The Indian travel market is at an inflection point and ranks among the world’s fastest-growing markets. According to an Expedia report, by 2025, 13.9 million leisure departures will be recorded from India’s metropolitan cities. Business travel accounts for 26% of outbound trips, making India one of the largest global markets for business travel.
Among Indian cities, Mumbai leads as the primary outbound market, contributing 63% to the country’s leisure and business travel. Mumbai also serves as India’s commercial and financial center and is home to Bollywood, the nation’s premier film industry.
OTM offers a platform for quality networking, connecting exhibitors, tour operators, and travel agents from around the globe with wedding planners, film producers, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) professionals, and corporate buyers. It hosts over 1,600 exhibitors from 60+ countries and provides access to more than 40,000 trade visitors and 1,000 top buyers across various sectors through a strong hosted buyer program.
In addition to the exhibition, OTM features knowledge-sharing and networking events, including panel discussions, workshops, and masterclasses at the OTM Forum. These sessions facilitate dialogue on critical trends and strategies shaping India’s $50 billion travel market.
Eight licensed Ugandan tour companies have been selected to participate at OTM alongside Uganda Airlines, the Uganda Tourism Board, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities, and the Uganda High Commission in New Delhi.
While addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre, the Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Hon. Martin Mugara, stated that Uganda’s participation in the OTM-Bombay Trade Fair is a bold step forward in diversifying tourism markets and increasing global presence.
“The OTM-Bombay attracts over 1,600 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, 1,000 top buyers, and an impressive 40,000 trade visitors annually. This scale and diversity make it a prime platform for Uganda to position itself as a premier tourism destination,” the minister said.
Hon. Mugara further highlighted that the trade fair comes at a pivotal moment as Uganda prepares for the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) 2025. He emphasized that OTM presents an unparalleled opportunity to tap into the Indian market and engage with thousands of hosted buyers from over 60 countries, inviting them to participate in POATE, slated for May 2025.
The minister also noted that the Indian travel market is one of the fastest-growing globally, with an anticipated 19.4 million visitor departures by 2024, offering vast opportunities for Uganda to position itself as a premier destination. With direct flights from Entebbe to Mumbai operated by Uganda Airlines, seamless connectivity is fostering greater potential to attract Indian travelers to explore Uganda’s unmatched offerings, including wildlife, culture, birding, and iconic experiences.
“Our participation at OTM aligns with the government’s Vision 2040 and Tenfold Growth Strategy, which prioritize tourism development as a key driver of economic transformation. The Uganda delegation, including both public and private sector stakeholders, will promote the theme, ‘Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa,’ showcasing Uganda as the ultimate adventure destination,” the minister concluded.
