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B M & T ••• January/February 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 F R O M T H E M O T H E R L A N D U ganda and other East African countries have been named Best Value Destinations for 2016 by Lonely Planet. East Africa has been chosen for travelers who want to experience some of the world's great wonders, from gorilla encounters to Rift Valley scenery, to squeaky-sanded beaches. The region comes in at no. 3 on the Lonely Planet list. This endorsement is also confirmation of the initiative by the East African countries to market the region as a single destination. Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda also have a single visa system that allows travelers to access all the three countries with the visa received at the port of entry. This allows tourists to travel without any hindrances and to enjoy what each country has to offer. In November, Uganda and her East African neighbors exhibited at the WTM London Expo at the Excel Convention Centre in London. The countries held a number of joint events to market the region. The accolade is the latest of many that Ugand a is getting. This past October, Uganda won best exhibitor at the Magical Kenya Travel Expo in Mombasa City. Uganda's profile as the preferred destination is growing. With 11% of the world's bird species (more than what North America has), Uganda is a birders paradise. In November, birders flocked to Uganda for the big birding day. With the growing interest on Uganda and East Africa, it is expected that 2016 will see more tourists visiting. T he nation's oldest travel organization dedicated to US-Africa tourism since 1975 and long considered the top global organization promoting tourism to Africa will become an operating element under the Corporate Council on Africa effective immediately. The formal announcement will be made at the New York Times Travel Show on January 8, 2016. Stephen Hayes, president and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) said, "The addition of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) to our portfolio of activities strengthens both the Africa Travel Association and the Corporate Council on Africa. Tourism is an essential ingredient in growing the economies of Africa. The potential for growth and investment in tourism in nearly every country in Africa is sim- ply huge, regardless of the stage of development." The opportunity to combine the two organization pr esented itself when long-time ATA executive director, Edward Bergman, announced he would step down from his position at the end of 2015, following the successful ATA 40th Annual World Congress in Nairobi, Kenya this past November. Edward Bergman added "Finding a home for the Africa Travel Association at the Council provides an opportunity for the travel industry within Africa and between the United States and the countries of Africa to reach new heights. The Corporate Council's focus on investment and devel- opment matches the requirements of today and supplements ATA's existing cultural and historic tourism endeavors throughout Africa. It was hard to imagine a better match for both organiza- tions." CCA has been a leading advocate for US-Africa trade and invest- ment since its founding in 1993 through a grant from then Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the United States Agency for International Development. ATA will operate in Washington, DC as a division of the Corporate Council on Africa. AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION TO OPERATE UNDER THE CORPORATE COUNCIL ON AFRICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. UGANDA NAMED BEST VALUE DESTINATION FOR 2016