Uganda Chases Direct Paris Flights as French Tourist Numbers Surge Past Double
Uganda’s tourism appeal in the French-speaking European market is climbing rapidly, but a persistent gap in direct air connectivity threatens to hold back its full potential. Fresh figures released by the Embassy of Uganda in France reveal that French visitor arrivals to the Pearl of Africa more than doubled in 2025, reaching 7,439 travellers and placing France firmly among Uganda’s top 10 source markets. Yet European buyers at a recent Paris travel fair have been vocal about one major obstacle standing in the way of accelerated growth: the absence of a nonstop Paris–Entebbe flight.
The insights emerged from IFTM Top Resa 2026, the influential business-to-business tourism fair held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 15 to 17 September. According to the embassy, more than 90 percent of French and Iberian buyers who met Ugandan tour operators identified the lack of direct air links as a serious source of additional cost and travel time. Current journeys between the two capitals range from around 11 hours to over 45 hours, depending on the routing, with travellers connecting via Brussels, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Doha, Amsterdam, Dubai or Kigali. A one-stop Qatar Airways option from Charles de Gaulle recently clocked in at just under 14 hours, while RwandAir advertised return fares starting from US\$774 outside peak season, climbing to €1,048 over the festive period.
To unlock the growth, the Ugandan government is reportedly advancing plans for Uganda Airlines to launch a direct Paris route by June 2027. This would mark a significant expansion for the national carrier, whose only current European destination is London Gatwick. The airline recently faced setbacks when both of its Airbus A330-800 long-haul aircraft were grounded for unscheduled maintenance earlier this year, though London services resumed on 10 March. Officials argue that a Paris route is commercially viable, citing France’s position as Uganda’s largest foreign direct investor with more than US\$1.6 billion pumped into the economy in 2023, representing 53 percent of total inflows. Paris also functions as a natural connecting hub for travellers from Spain and Portugal.
For African travel industry professionals, the French visitor profile makes compelling reading. The embassy reports that these travellers spend more than US\$2,025 on average per trip and stay between eight and 15 nights, positioning France as a genuine high-value market. Their appetite leans heavily towards signature Ugandan experiences including gorilla tracking in Bwindi and Mgahinga, Big Five safaris, Rwenzori Mountain trekking, Nile adventure activities and birding expeditions. New hotel inventory, including the 181-room Marriott Kampala, Erebero Hills and Namoni Lodge, is helping to meet the growing demand for quality accommodation.
Business momentum at the fair was tangible. Eleven private Ugandan tour companies participated this year, more than double the five that attended in 2025. Each firm reportedly held between 18 and 22 pre-scheduled meetings with buyers from France, Spain, Portugal and the Benelux countries. Conversations quickly progressed to rates, room allotments and, critically, gorilla permit allocations, with several companies securing contracts for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Minister of State for Tourism Susan Nakawuki, who co-led the delegation with Ambassador Doreen Ruth Amule, summed it up crisply: “France already trusts Uganda with big investments, tourism is the natural next step.”
The timing carries strategic weight. Direct flights could dramatically boost arrivals ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania, creating a spectacular platform to showcase East Africa. Overall, Uganda welcomed 1,642,215 visitors in 2025, up 19.7 percent year-on-year, with tourism receipts climbing 21.3 percent to US\$1.62 billion.
The Paris push also came on the heels of an Ebola outbreak earlier this year that recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with Uganda declared Ebola-free in late August after 42 days without a new case. One unnamed French operator quoted by the embassy captured the industry mood perfectly: “We can finally sell Uganda again without explaining Ebola in every email.” For African tourism stakeholders watching closely, Uganda’s assertive marketing playbook offers a valuable lesson in turning geographic distance and past crises into fresh commercial opportunities.
Originally Published at Travelnews.africa
