Uganda will host an international tourism conference during June 27 to 29 this year, which will mobilize the main actors in the tourism sector from 14 countries, mainly from Africa and Europe.

Companies involved in the tourism industry will benefit from a 110 million euros (about 143 million U.S. dollars) European grant dubbed "Proinvest" to improve and develop capacities ahead of the conference, Daily Monitor reported on Friday.

The Profit Tourism Investment Conference is a component of the Proinvest program, a common initiative of the European Commission and institutions from the Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.

The program promotes investments and technology transfer to the ACP countries and operates through the strengthening of ACP intermediary and professional organizations.

Speaking at a meeting of stakeholders at the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Offices in Kampala, the Profit and Proinvest Senior Coordinator Michael Langstaff said each individual company engaged in the tourism industry in Uganda will receive at least 50, 000 Euros.

At least 250,000 Euros will be for intermediary agencies dealing in the promotion, investment, trade and tourism in the country, he said.

"This is a great opportunity that the stakeholders can utilize and we are happy it has come at an opportune time when the country is in preparation for Commonwealth Head of Government meeting (CHOGM) in November too," said UIA Executive Director Maggie Kigozi.

Beneficiaries will get support for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions as well as construction and utilities, she said.

Others will be supported in acquiring new Information and Communication Technologies such as e-ticketing and e-banking and internet access, Kigozi added.

(1U.S. dollar = 0.75 euro)

Source: Xinhua