Emirates collaborates with Mauritius and Uganda to boost tourism in both countries – Business – Economy and Finance

Emirates Airlines Boosts Inbound Tourism with Partnerships in Mauritius and Uganda

Emirates Airlines continues to focus on boosting inbound tourism flows from across its network through strategic collaborations with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and the Uganda Tourism Board. The airline recently signed pacts with both organizations on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), where they concluded a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings and meetings with industry and trade partners.

In a bid to support the island nation of Mauritius, Emirates renewed its partnership with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. The MoU was signed by Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Arvind Bundhun, Director of MTPA. The signing ceremony was attended by key officials from both organizations, including Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates, Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President Passenger Sales and Country Management, and Donald Payen, Chairman of MTPA.

The strategic alliance between Emirates and MTPA dates back to 2012, with joint initiatives aimed at promoting tourism to Mauritius. Emirates has been operating in Mauritius since 2002, offering double daily A380 services to the island. The airline has played a significant role in supporting inbound tourism and contributing to the growth of Mauritius’ tourism economy and trade through its passenger and cargo services. In 2023, nearly 1.3 million tourist arrivals were recorded for Mauritius, with Emirates facilitating a substantial portion of these visits.

Ahmed Khoory expressed Emirates’ pride in serving Mauritius and its commitment to helping the country achieve its tourism targets through the partnership with MTPA. He highlighted the airline’s capacity to transport up to 1,000 tourists per day to the island with its double daily A380 services, emphasizing Emirates’ role in boosting the country’s tourism economy.

Arvind Bundhun of MTPA expressed excitement about the renewed partnership with Emirates, acknowledging the airline’s contribution to Mauritius’ tourism sector by opening up key markets and providing global connectivity to the island.

In a separate agreement, Emirates and the Uganda Tourism Board signed an MoU to drive inbound tourism and attract visitors to Uganda, known as the Pearl of Africa. 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, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations and the Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the UAE.

Badr Abbas highlighted Uganda’s significance as a key destination on Emirates’ global network and emphasized the airline’s commitment to promoting the country’s natural landscapes, wildlife, adventure sports, and cultural hospitality.

Lilly Ajarova of the Uganda Tourism Board expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Emirates, aiming to leverage the airline’s vast network to attract more tourists to Uganda and position the country as a competitive tourism destination.

Under the MoU, Emirates will identify key markets to promote Uganda as a favorable tourism destination, while the Uganda Tourism Board will collaborate with the airline to develop marketing programs and initiatives to stimulate tourism bookings into Uganda. The partnership aims to support Uganda’s tourism sector transformation and enhance its visibility as a premier destination on the global map.

Overall, Emirates Airlines’ partnerships with MTPA and the Uganda Tourism Board underscore its commitment to driving inbound tourism and supporting the growth of tourism economies in Mauritius and Uganda. The collaborations are expected to boost visitor numbers, create employment opportunities, and enhance the competitiveness of these destinations in the global tourism market.