戴斌 | 培育中非旅游合作的乌干达范例

旅行   2025-01-21 17:12   北京  


1月21日,经文化和旅游部批准,乌干达旅游、野生动物和文物部邀请中国旅游研究院院长戴斌赴乌干达出席中国-乌干达文化和旅游合作交流研讨会,并发表题为《培育中非旅游合作的乌干达范例》主题演讲,全文分享如下:

尊敬的布廷梅部长、张利忠大使、沃内卡大使,

各位旅游业界同仁、媒体朋友,

受乌干达旅游、野生动物和文物部邀请,经中国文化和旅游部批准,在中国驻乌干达大使馆和乌干达驻中国大使馆的大力协助下,我和我的同事,以及广之旅、凯撒、天悦、远景、华程、春秋、康辉、东南、易游等知名旅行商代表顺利首访“非洲明珠”乌干达。在坎帕拉这座拥有灿烂的文化历史遗产、壮丽的湖泊景观和完善的商业环境的首都城市,我们受到了各方面的热情接待,并获邀参加乌干达旅游、野生动物和文物部与中国驻乌干达大使馆联合举办的2025中国-乌干达文化和旅游合作交流研讨会。论坛期间的欢迎仪式和文艺演出,特别是刚才的乌干达人民眼中的中国文化给我留下了深刻印象,她们的美丽、热情、善良、温暖,让我深受感动。感觉我和同事来晚了,我的同胞来少了。中国有句话,“好饭不怕晚”“朋友不怕多”。在前期研究、数据分析和在地考察的基础上,我期待与各位达成如下共识:旅游在中非人文交流和经贸合作战略进程中扮演着日益重要的角色,在为发展而起、为发展而兴的“全球南方”振兴之路上将发挥更加积极的作用。在中乌两国外交、文化、旅游、民航、商务等部门和业界的共同努力下,乌干达在不远的将来有望成为中国出境旅游的重要目的地和中非旅游交流合作的示范案例。


01

中非旅游交流有历史经验,更有现实基础


读万卷书,行万里路,自古以来就是中华民族的优良传统,出国旅游尤为人们所向往。据史书《通典》记载,第一个踏足非洲的中国人是唐代的杜环。8世纪50年代,杜环由当时阿拉伯帝国的首都巴士拉出发,越过苏伊士地峡经埃及到达非洲的摩邻国。14世纪,两位伟大的世界级旅行家——中国的汪大渊和摩洛哥的伊本·白图泰,分别从泉州和丹吉尔出发并最终踏上了对方的出发地。他们留下的《岛夷志略》和《伊本·白图泰游记》,生动记录了旅途所见的自然景观和人文风情,见证了源远流长的中非文化交流和人民之间的长期交往与互慕互敬。受经济发展水平和交通基础设施等历史条件所限,漂洋过海的跨国旅行还只是极少数人的体验。随着科技的进步、市场的拓展和文化的交流,越来越多的人加入旅行与旅游进程中来,越来越多的人实现了在这颗蓝色的星球上自由地行走。

国之交,在民相亲;民相交,在常来往。从1405年到1433年,郑和七下西洋、四赴非洲。随员马欢等人对船队所访东非城邦的位置、气候、居民和风俗习惯等作了生动描述,使得中国人对非洲的认识和了解大大超过了前代。在此期间,中国主要向非洲出口丝绸、瓷器等,从非洲进口香料和草原动物。正如南非总统姆贝基所言,中国船队到访非洲港口所带来的是互惠互利的合作,而不是随着欧洲人而来的奴隶贸易和殖民主义所带来的毁灭与绝望。平等互利和交流互鉴,自古以来就是中国人海外旅行的文化基因,也是全球旅游业繁荣和发展的指导思想。

海内存知己,天涯若比邻。新中国成立后,周恩来总理代表新中国第一代领导人访非,提出中国同非洲国家相互关系的五项原则及中国对外援助的八项原则,奠定了中非关系发展的政治基础。2013年3月,习近平主席首次访问非洲,他强调:“中非从来都是命运共同体,共同的历史遭遇、共同的发展任务、共同的战略利益把我们紧紧联系在一起”,他还提出了中非友好合作的“真实亲诚”四字理念,为中非关系的进一步深化和发展指明方向。从援建坦赞铁路、落实二十国集团缓债倡议,到推动非洲国家和非盟委员会加入共建“一带一路”,从中非合作论坛峰会,到越来越多的非洲国家加入金砖合作机制或成为金砖伙伴国,中非合作行稳致远。2024年中非合作论坛北京峰会通过了《关于共筑新时代全天候中非命运共同体的北京宣言》和《中非合作论坛-北京行动计划(2025-2027)》,更是为中国与包括乌干达在内的非洲国家合作提供了行动纲领。以文化为纽带,以旅游为桥梁,促进民心相通,已经成为中非经济社会发展各领域的广泛共识。

习近平主席在2024年中非合作论坛北京峰会开幕式上郑重宣布,中国同所有非洲建交国的双边关系提升到战略关系层面,中非关系整体定位提升至新时代全天候中非命运共同体。政治互信是双边旅游交流可持续增长的基础,更是旅游合作高质量发展的保障。经过近70年的辛勤耕耘,中非关系正处于历史最好时期。近年来,中国企业为非洲新增和升级了近10万公里公路、超1万公里铁路、近千座桥梁、近百个港口,极大地改变了非洲的交通面貌。可以预测,随着共建“一带一路”倡议的深入实施,未来非洲基础设施改善还会走出“加速度”,这为中非旅游交流与合作深化提供更加扎实的硬件基础。种种迹象表明,中非旅游交流合作正在迎来规模增长和质量提升的历史机遇期。

中非人文交流和旅游合作的广度不断拓展,频度稳步增长,程度不断深入。文化交流方面,中非合作举办了“国家年”“文化年”“欢乐春节”“中非文化聚焦”“意会中国”等品牌活动。53个非洲国家的文化艺术机构和主要城市加入丝绸之路国际剧院联盟、博物馆联盟、艺术节联盟、电影节联盟、图书馆联盟、美术馆联盟及丝绸之路旅游城市联盟等联盟机制。旅游交往方面,中国已经与31个非洲国家签署了双边旅游合作文件,与非洲建立了166对友好城市。非洲有34个国家已经成为中国公民组团出境旅游目的地,其中23个国家正式开展了中国公民组团旅游业务。中国公民免签入境的非洲国家和地区有4个,落地签的有12个。旅游在中非人文交流中扮演的角色越来越关键,发挥的作用越来越重要。中国与非洲人口之和约占全球总人口的三分之一。2019年,中非之间游客互访人次已突破百万大关。中国游客非常喜欢非洲的自然风光、历史文化和民俗风情,每到冬夏两季和春节、劳动节、国庆节等公众假日,关于非洲的旅游资讯都会是网络搜索的热词。2024年暑期,中国游客赴非洲的预订人次同比上涨近两倍,国庆节假日期间的订单同比增长了168%。作为新兴的海外旅游目的地,“非洲明珠”乌干达更是吸引了中国出境旅游者的热情关注和体验到访。


02

中乌旅游交流数据稳步增长, 质量持续提升


中乌双方高度的政治互信、频繁的人文交流和密切的经贸往来,奠定了两国旅游交流合作的坚实基础。1962年,中乌两国正式建立外交关系。2019年6月,习近平主席和穆塞韦尼总统一致同意将中乌关系提升为全面合作伙伴关系。2024年9月,两国关系提升至全面战略合作伙伴关系。早在2006年6月,中乌两国就发表联合公报,明确了加强旅游交流合作的共识。2023年,两国贸易额达到13.05亿美元新高。2024年6月,维多利亚湖畔的端午龙舟赛标志着中国文化走入当地社区生活。

伴随全球国际旅游的快速复苏,中乌旅游交流合作正迎来全新的战略机遇期。乌干达凭借其丰富的自然资源和独特的文化魅力,以及在中非合作论坛、金砖国家合作机制等多边合作机制下的积极作为,应当也可以成为中非旅游合作的先行区和示范地。近年来,乌干达政府在旅游基础设施建设、旅游品牌推广、人力资源培训等方面的持续投入,加上双边和多边机制框架下的积极作为并与中方保持紧密合作,必将进一步提升其在中非旅游合作中的地位和作用。

近年来,中乌互访游客呈现快速增长态势。中国旅游研究院(文化和旅游部数据中心)的监测数据显示,2010年至2018年,乌干达每年来华旅游人数均保持在1万多人的规模,2019年首次超过2万人。根据乌干达旅游、野生动物和文物部的数据,到访乌干达的中国游客在2016年就接近2万人的规模。在“非洲热”的带动下,过去两年访问乌干达的中国游客快速回升,中国已经成为非洲以外的第4大客源市场,是重要的海外远程客源市场。

图1 中乌双方互访人次及趋势


中国赴乌干达旅游的增长潜力可观。2024年只有2.9%的中国出境游客到访非洲,相当于每100个中国出境游客中,只有不到3个选择赴非洲旅游,而到访非洲的游客中,赴乌干达旅游者,只占约1个百分点。除了观光休闲度假需求,很多中国公民因商务或劳务派遣赴乌旅行,近七成来自于华东、华南和华中等对外经贸、人员往来相对频繁的区域。根据中国旅游研究院(文化和旅游部数据中心)的大数据监测,2024年中国有168个城市的居民曾赴乌旅游,占样本城市的45.0%。客源城市覆盖范围较广,但游客量相对不足,其中有60个城市的赴乌游客量全年均不足30人,可见,乌干达对中国而言还是一个相对小众的旅游目的地。

中国游客对乌干达普遍具有较正面的感知,对其独特魅力心向往之。乌干达拥有10个国家公园,是世界濒危动物山地大猩猩的家园,是世界探险爱好者的天堂;在维多利亚湖的滋润下,乌干达气候宜人,生物多样性丰富,是人与自然亲密和谐共处的绝佳之地。在中国主流社交媒体上,乌干达被中国网友称为“被严重低估的旅行国家”“被遗忘的旅游净土”“最友好的非洲国家”“非洲小众秘境”,吸引了越来越多的中国游客前来体验。随着公路交通体系和旅游公共服务体系的完善,到乌干达自由行、深度游、自驾游的中国游客有明显增长趋势。

同时也要看到,乌干达在国家知名度、旅游宣传与市场推广、交通基础设施、城市公共服务、旅游接待体系建设与运营等方面还有很大的提升空间。景观之上是生活,今天的游客既要美丽风景,也要美好生活。对于旅游经验相对丰富的中国游客来说,仅仅自然风光和文化遗产是不够的。中国游客对乌干达了解不够深,品牌认知不充分,在首都坎帕拉以外的地区旅游较为匆忙。中国旅游研究院(文化和旅游部数据中心)的大数据监测显示,2024年中国游客在乌干达旅游平均停留3.0天。“路况堪忧”“没有数字支付、货币兑换不方便”“加油站和厕所的卫生条件不尽人意”等,在一定程度上影响了中国游客的体验感和满意度。土地所有权制度及执行过程中的不确定性,也影响了各类资源投资乌干达旅游业的积极性。


03

推动中乌旅游可持续增长和高质量发展


加大对中国市场的旅游宣传和政策协调力度。通过举办各类旅游展会、研讨会、专题推介会,有效增进两国旅行商的情感认知,扩大业务合作空间。今天的中国-乌干达文化和旅游合作交流研讨会就很好,可以为投资机构、旅行商和民间组织搭建更多更优质的合作平台。用好友好城市机制,推动地方政府和城市往来。除了北京、上海、广州、深圳、苏州、重庆、成都、天津等特大型城市,与恩德培市结对的长沙和武汉,与金贾市结对的沈阳,都是中国出游潜力很大的客源地,对周边区域也有示范带动效应,应是当前和今后一个时期乌干达旅游推广的重点区域。作为姆巴拉拉市友好城市的三亚市,在海滨、海岛和海洋旅游目的地建设,以及全球旅游市场布局和重点市场宣传推广方面,均有值得借鉴和可以分享的发展经验。密切与周边国家如肯尼亚的跨境合作,协同“大湖国家”在中国联合推广“一程多站”旅游线路。务实推进旅游、文化、外交、移民等领域的政策协调,在适当时候与中方共同举办文化旅游年。

切实提升游客互访便利度和旅游品质获得感。对于不同文化背景的远程市场而言,签证、移民、通关的便利化和民航、酒店、餐饮的完善性,往往比自然和历史文化遗产的独特性更为重要。推进两国外交和移民部门签署旅游团队互免签证协议,实施单方面免签、过境免签、一签多行等签证便利化政策,推动中乌航线直达并实行灵活多变的代码共享、行李直挂、旅游包机等民航政策,吸引更多往返中非的航班在恩德培机场经停和中转。北京、上海、广州等国际枢纽城市已经与亚的斯亚贝巴、开罗、阿尔及尔、内罗毕等城市开通了直航航班。建议在中央政府的协调下,加快完善与上述机场城市特别是斯亚贝巴和内罗毕之间的交通连接。回应中国游客的现实关切,重点加强酒店、民宿、旅游景区与度假区、旅游厕所建设,增加足够数量的中文导游、导览和解说系统。

务实推进投资机构、市场主体、市场调查和专业研究机构交流合作。投资机构、市场经营主体和服务品牌是国际旅游目的地建设的关键力量,旅游统计、数据分析和专业研究是现代旅游业高质量发展的基础保障。随着中国和世界各国各地区的游客到访,乌干达需要加大世界级旅游城市和街区、旅游景区和度假区、主题旅游线路、优质旅游产品和服务品牌,并不断完善消费便利和金融支付体系。我和我的同事愿意协助乌方开展中国出境旅游市场的专项调查,以便目的地营销机构和私营部门更好地了解中国游客的需求偏好和消费特征,并定期向大使馆和旅游部提交专题报告。我们愿意向“中国旅游集团20强”介绍乌干达旅游发展现状,推动投资机构和主场主体之间的合作。我们也愿意推进乌干达旅游教育培训机构,与中国旅游研究院遍布全国的26家分院和研究基地合作,提供相应的专业课程和培训项目。我们还愿意与合作伙伴哲意公司一道推动 “欢迎中国(Welcome Chinese)”项目在乌干达落地,让更多的城市、街区、机场、博物馆、景区和酒店为中国游客所了解。这次一同前来的多家知名旅行商代表将对中高端游客需求及其变化趋势展开讨论,为更好地接待中国游客提出务实建议。他们都是专业而务实的企业家,这次带来了资源考察、线路设计的任务和商务合作的愿望,也会很快带着更多的游客再次到来。

“志合者,不以山海为远”“同路人才是真朋友”,有了旅游发展的共识,有了政府的规划引领和旅行商的相向而行,我们有信心也有能力将乌干达建设成为中非旅游合作的先行区与示范地。


Cultivating the Uganda Model 

for China-Africa Tourism Cooperation

January 21, 2025, Kampala

Honorable Minister Butime, Ambassador Zhang Lizhong,H.E.Wonekha

Distinguished colleagues in the tourism industry, and media friends,

At the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities of Uganda, and with the approval of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, I, along with my colleagues and representatives from well-known travel agencies such as GZL International Travel Service Ltd., Beijing Caissa International Travel Service Co. Ltd., Gui Zhou Tian Yue Tourism Group, Hangzhou Yuanjing International Travel Agency Co., Ltd., HCG International Travel Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Spring International Travel Service (Group) Co., Ltd., and Liaoning Comfort International Travel Service Co. Ltd., successfully embarked on our first visit to Uganda, the "Pearl of Africa." In the vibrant capital city of Kampala, known for its rich cultural history, magnificent lake landscapes, and well-developed business environment, we were warmly received by all sectors. We were also invited to attend the Uganda-China Tourism and Cultural Symposium 2025, jointly organized by the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the Chinese Embassy in Uganda.In particular, the Chinese culture in the eyes of the Ugandan people just now: their beauty, enthusiasm, kindness and warmth, I was deeply moved, feeling that my colleagues and I came too late, and my compatriots came too little.As a Chinese saying goes, "A good word is never too late."

Based on preliminary research, data analysis, and on-the-ground investigations, I look forward to reaching the following consensus with you: Tourism plays an increasingly important role in China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation. It will play an even more active role in the revitalization of the "Global South", which is rising and flourishing for development of developing economies. With the joint efforts of both the Chinese and Ugandan governments, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture, Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Commerce, as well as industry professionals, Uganda is poised to become an important destination for Chinese tourists and a model for China-Africa tourism exchange and cooperation in the near future.

I. China-Africa Tourism Exchange: Historical Experience and a Solid Foundation in Reality

"Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles" has always been a fine tradition of the Chinese nation, and travelling abroad has long been a cherished aspiration for many. According to the Chinese historical text Tong Dian, the first Chinese person to set foot in Africa was Du Huan of the Tang Dynasty. In the 750s, Du Huan set out from the capital of the Arab Empire, Basra, and traveled across the Suez Isthmus and through Egypt to reach the Molin Nation in Africa, named by him. In the 14th century, two great world travelers – China's Wang Dayuan and Morocco's Ibn Battuta respectively departed from Quanzhou and Tangier, ultimately arriving at each other's starting points. Their works, The Concise Record of Island Indigenous peoples and The Travels of Ibn Battuta, vividly documented the natural landscapes and cultural customs they encountered, witnessing the long history of China-Africa cultural exchanges and the long-standing friendship and mutual respect between the peoples.

Due to historical constraints such as economic development levels and transportation infrastructure, transcontinental travel was once an experience for only a few. However, with the advancement of technology, the expansion of markets, and the growth of cultural exchanges, more and more people are now participating into travel and tourism activities, and increasingly, people are able to freely explore this blue planet.

The Friendship of Nations Begins with the Affinity of People; The Affinity of People Is Built on Frequent Interactions. From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He made seven maritime expeditions and visited Africa four times. His attendants, such as Ma Huan, provided vivid descriptions of the locations, climate, inhabitants, and customs of the East African city-states, greatly expanding the Chinese understanding of Africa, far beyond that of previous generations. During this period, China primarily exported silk, porcelain, and other goods to Africa, while importing spices and wildlife from the continent. As the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki once said, the Chinese fleet's visits to African ports brought mutually beneficial cooperation, unlike the destruction and despair brought by the European-led slave trade and colonialism. Equal benefit and exchange of knowledge have always been part of the cultural DNA of Chinese overseas travel and remain the guiding principles for the prosperity and development of global tourism.

True friendship knows no distance. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Premier Zhou Enlai, as a representative of the first generation of Chinese leadership, visited Africa and proposed the Five Principles of China-Africa relations and the Eight Principles of China's foreign aid, laying the political foundation for the development of China-Africa relations. In March 2013, President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Africa, emphasizing that China and Africa have always been a community of shared destiny, bound together by common historical experiences, common development tasks, and common strategic interests. He also introduced the Principles of Sincerity, Real Results, Amity and Good Faith for China-Africa friendship and cooperation, providing guidance for the further deepening and development of China-Africa relations. From the construction of the TAZARA Railway to the implementation of the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative, from promoting the participation of African countries and the African Union Commission in the Belt and Road Initiative to Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the increasing number of African countries joining the BRICS or becoming BRICS partner countries, China-Africa cooperation has made steady progress. In 2024, the the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation adopted the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), providing an action blueprint for China-Africa cooperation, including with Uganda. Using culture as a link and tourism as a bridge to promote mutual understanding has become a broad consensus in various fields of China-Africa economic and social development.

At the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, President Xi Jinping solemnly announced that China has elevated its bilateral relations with all African countries to a strategic level, and that the overall positioning of China-Africa relations has been upgraded to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. Political mutual trust is the foundation for the sustainable growth of bilateral tourism exchanges and, more importantly, the guarantee for the high-quality development of tourism cooperation. After nearly 70 years of hard work, China-Africa relations are now at their best historical period. In recent years, Chinese enterprises have built and upgraded nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, over 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 1,000 bridges, and nearly 100 ports in Africa, drastically improving the continent's transportation landscape. It is predictable that with the continued implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the pace of infrastructure improvement in Africa will accelerate, providing a more solid hardware foundation for the deepening of China-Africa tourism exchanges and cooperation. All signs point to the fact that China-Africa tourism exchanges and cooperation are entering a historic period of scale growth and quality improvement.

The breadth, frequency, and depth of China-Africa cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation have been continuously expanding. In terms of cultural exchanges, China and Africa have organized brand events such as "National Year," "Cultural Year," "Happy Spring Festival," "China-Africa Cultural Focus," and "Understanding China." Cultural and artistic institutions from 53 African countries, along with major cities, have joined alliance mechanisms such as the Silk Road International League of Theaters, Silk Road International Museum Alliance, Network of Silk Road Arts Festivals, Silk Road International Library Alliance,Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance、Silk Road International Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries, and International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities.

In terms of tourism exchanges, China has signed bilateral tourism cooperation documents with 31 African countries and established 166 sister city partnerships with African nations. A total of 34 African countries have become destinations for Chinese group tourists, and 23 of these countries have officially launched group tourism services for Chinese citizens. Four African countries and regions offer visa-free entry to Chinese citizens, while 12 offer visa-on-arrival services.

Tourism is increasingly playing a key role in China-Africa cultural exchanges and has become more important over time. With a combined population of China and Africa accounting for about one-third of the world's total population, the number of tourist visits between China and Africa surpassed one million in 2019. Chinese tourists are particularly drawn to Afric's natural landscapes, historical culture, and folk customs. During winter and summer holidays, as well as public holidays such as the Spring Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, tourism information related to Africa often becomes a hot search topic online. In the summer of 2024, bookings for Chinese tourists visiting Africa nearly doubled compared to the previous year, and bookings during the National Day holiday increased by 168%. As an emerging overseas tourist destination, Uganda, known as the "Pearl of Africa," has garnered enthusiastic attention from Chinese tourists to visit and experience the country.

II. Steady Growth of China-Uganda Tourism Exchanges with Continuous Improvement in Quality

The high political mutual trust, frequent cultural exchanges, and close economic and trade ties between China and Uganda have laid a solid foundation for bilateral tourism exchange and cooperation. In 1962, China and Uganda officially established diplomatic relations. In June 2019, President Xi Jinping and President Museveni agreed to elevate China-Uganda relations to a comprehensive cooperative partnership. In September 2024, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. As early as June 2006, China and Uganda issued a joint communique, outlining the consensus on strengthening tourism exchange and cooperation. In 2023, the trade volume between the two countries reached a new high of 1.305 billion USD. In June 2024, the Dragon Boat Festival held on the shores of Lake Victoria marked the introduction of Chinese culture into the local community life.

With the rapid recovery of global international tourism, China-Uganda tourism exchange and cooperation is entering a new strategic opportunity period. Uganda, with its rich natural resources, unique cultural charm, and active involvement in multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and BRICS, has the potential to become a pioneering area and model for China-Africa tourism cooperation. In recent years, Uganda's government has made continuous investments in tourism infrastructure, tourism brand promotion, and human resource training. Combined with proactive actions within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, as well as close cooperation with China, Uganda is poised to further enhance its position and role in China-Africa tourism cooperation.

In recent years, the number of mutual visits between China and Uganda has shown rapid growth. Monitoring data from the China Tourism Academy (Data Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism) shows that from 2010 to 2018, the number of Ugandans visiting China remained above 10,000 annually, and in 2019, it surpassed 20,000 for the first time. According to data from the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, the number of Chinese visitors to Uganda reached nearly 20,000 as early as 2016. Driven by the "Africa Enthusiasm," the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uganda has rapidly rebounded in the past two years. China has become the fourth-largest source market for Uganda outside Africa and is an important overseas long-haul market.

Figure 1: Trends in mutual tourists between China and Uganda

The growth potential for Chinese tourists visiting Uganda is considerable. In 2024, only 2.9% of Chinese outbound tourists visited Africa, meaning that fewer than 3 out of every 100 Chinese outbound tourists choose to travel to Africa. Among those visiting Africa, only about 1% travel to Uganda. In addition to sightseeing and leisure vacation demand, many Chinese citizens travel to Uganda for business or labor dispatch, with nearly 70% coming from regions with relatively frequent foreign trade, personnel exchanges, such as East China, South China, and Central China. According to big data monitoring by the China Tourism Academy (Data Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism), in 2024, residents from 168 cities in China traveled to Uganda, accounting for 45.0% of the sample cities. The source cities cover a wide range, but the number of tourists remains relatively small. In fact, in 60 cities, the number of tourists visiting Uganda annually was less than 30, indicating that Uganda is still considered a relatively niche destination for Chinese tourists.

Chinese tourists generally have a positive perception of Uganda and are attracted by its unique charm. Uganda is home to 10 national parks and the endangered mountain gorillas, making it a paradise for adventure lovers. With the nurturing of Lake Victoria, Uganda enjoys a pleasant climate and rich biodiversity, making it an ideal destination for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. On China's mainstream social media platforms, Uganda is often described by Chinese netizens as an "underrated travel destination," "the forgotten tourism paradise," "the friendliest African country," and "a hidden gem in Africa." This has drawn an increasing number of Chinese tourists to experience the country. With improvements in the road transportation and public tourism services, there has been a noticeable growth in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uganda for independent travel, in-depth tours, and self-driving trips.

At the same time, it is noted that Uganda still has considerable room for improvement in areas such as national awareness, tourism promotion and marketing, transportation infrastructure, urban public services, and the construction and operation of tourism reception systems. Beyond the scenic views, there is life mattering more for Chinese tourists. Today's Chinese tourists not only seek beautiful landscapes but also desire a comfortable experience. Towards those Chinese tourists, who generally have more travel experience, simply offering natural scenery and cultural heritage is not enough. Chinese tourists' understanding of Uganda is still shallow, and brand recognition is insufficient. Outside of the capital city, Kampala, tourists often take a rushed trip. According to big data monitoring by the China Tourism Academy (Data Center of Ministry of Cultural and Tourism), Chinese tourists spend an average of 3.0 days in Uganda in 2024. Issues such as "poor road conditions," "lack of digital payment options and inconvenient currency exchange," and "unsatisfactory sanitation at gas stations and restrooms" have somewhat affected the tourists' experience and satisfaction. The uncertainty surrounding land ownership systems and their implementation also impacts the enthusiasm for investors in Uganda's tourism sector.

Ⅲ. Promoting Sustainable Growth and High-Quality Development of China-Uganda Tourism

Increase Efforts in Tourism Promotion and Policy Coordination for the Chinese Market. Organizing various tourism exhibitions, seminars, and promotional events can strengthen the emotional connections between travel agents in both countries and create new opportunities for business cooperation. The Uganda-China Tourism and Cultural Symposium 2025, held today, serves as an excellent platform to foster high-quality collaboration among investment institutions, travel agents, and civil organizations.

It is also recommended to leverage the "friendly cities" mechanism to promote exchanges between local governments and cities. In addition to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Tianjin, cities with strong market potential like Changsha and Wuhan should be paired with Entebbe, while Shenyang can be paired with Jinja. These pairings will be key to Uganda's tourism promotion both now and in the future. Sanya, a sister city of Mbarara, can offer valuable insights from its experience in developing seaside, island, and marine tourism destinations, as well as its global tourism market strategy, with a focus on promoting key markets.

Further, it is recommended to enhance cross-border cooperation with neighboring countries like Kenya to jointly promote "multi-destination" tourist routes targeting the Chinese market in collaboration with the "Great Lakes Countries." Finally, advancing policy coordination in areas such as tourism, culture, diplomacy, and immigration is crucial. At an appropriate time, hosting a "Cultural and Tourism Year" in partnership with China could provide an excellent opportunity for both nations.

Enhance the Convenience of Tourist Exchanges and the Quality of Travel Experiences. For markets with distinct cultural backgrounds and remote locations, visa facilitation, immigration processes, customs procedures, and the development of civil aviation, hotels, and catering often hold greater importance than the uniqueness of natural and historical heritage. It is recommended to advocate for the signing of visa exemption agreements for tourist groups between the diplomatic and immigration authorities of both countries. Additionally, promoting unilateral visa exemptions, transit visa waivers, and multiple-entry visa policies will further enhance travel convenience.

Efforts should also focus on establishing direct flights between China and Uganda and promoting flexible civil aviation policies such as code-sharing, direct luggage handling, and chartered flights. Positioning Entebbe as a key layover and transfer hub will encourage more flight connections between China and Africa. Cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou already have direct flights to African cities like Addis Ababa, Cairo, Algiers, and Nairobi. Under the coordination of the central government, improving transportation links between Ugandan cities and these key hubs, particularly between Addis Ababa and Nairobi, is crucial.

To address the real concerns of Chinese tourists, it is essential to strengthen the development of hotels, homestays, tourist attractions, resorts, and public amenities like restrooms. Moreover, authorities should prioritize increasing the availability of Chinese-speaking guides, tour systems, and interpretation services to enhance the overall travel experience.

Pragmatically Promote Cooperation Among Investment Institutions, Market Entities, Market Research, and Professional Research Organizations. Investment institutions, market operators, and service brands are pivotal to the development of international tourism destinations. Tourism statistics, data analysis, and professional research serve as essential foundations for the high-quality development of modern tourism.

As tourists from China and other countries visit Uganda, it is crucial for the country to enhance its world-class tourist cities, scenic areas, resorts, themed tourism routes, high-quality products, and service brands, while continuously improving consumer convenience and the financial payment system.

My colleagues and I could support Uganda by conducting specialized research on the Chinese outbound tourism market. This will enable destination marketing organizations and the private sector to better understand the needs, preferences, and consumption behaviors of Chinese tourists. We may regularly submit detailed reports to the embassy and the Ministry.

We may also introduce Uganda's tourism development to the "Top 20 China Tourism Groups" and foster collaboration between investment institutions and local stakeholders. In addition, we aim to facilitate partnerships between Uganda's tourism education and training institutions and the 26 branches and research bases of the China Tourism Academy, offering relevant professional courses and training programs. Furthermore, we can collaborate with our partner, Select Holding Ltd., to launch the "Welcome Chinese" project in Uganda. This initiative will help more cities, districts, airports, museums, scenic spots, and hotels become recognized by Chinese tourists.

Several well-known travel agency representatives accompanying us on this trip will share later insights on the demands and trends of mid- to high-end Chinese tourists, offering practical recommendations for better serving Chinese visitors. These experienced entrepreneurs bring valuable resources for research, route design, and business cooperation, and they may return with more tourists in the near future.

"Those with shared aspirations are not distant despite mountains and seas." "True friends are those who walk the same path." With a shared consensus on tourism development, the guidance of government planning, and the mutual efforts of travel agencies, we are confident and capable of building Uganda into a pioneer and model for China-Africa tourism cooperation.
作者 | 戴斌
责编 | 刘鑫
来源 | 中国旅游研究院(文化和旅游部数据中心)
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