Uganda and France Eye Direct Paris Entebbe Flights as French Tourism Demand More Than Doubles

Uganda and France are moving towards closer tourism and aviation links as Uganda explores direct Paris–Entebbe flights following a sharp increase in French visitor demand. Uganda recorded 7,439 arrivals from France in 2025, more than twice the previous year’s level and enough to place France among the country’s top international source markets. The momentum was highlighted at IFTM Top Resa 2026 in Paris, where European travel buyers identified the lack of nonstop air connectivity as an obstacle to selling more Uganda holidays. Ugandan officials are now targeting a possible Uganda Airlines Paris service by June 2027, although no final launch schedule has yet been announced by the carrier.

French Tourism Demand Gives Uganda a New European Opportunity

Uganda’s tourism industry entered 2026 from a much stronger position.

Official figures from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities show the country received 1,642,215 international visitors in 2025, representing growth of 19.7% compared with 2024.

Tourism receipts climbed even faster, increasing 21.3% to approximately US$1.62 billion, or UGX5.83 trillion.

France has emerged as an increasingly important part of this recovery.

Figures presented during Uganda’s tourism campaign in Paris show that 7,439 French travellers visited Uganda in 2025, more than double the number recorded a year earlier.

The growth is encouraging Uganda to look beyond destination marketing and address one of the practical barriers affecting the market: air access.

Paris–Entebbe Nonstop Flight Becomes a Major Talking Point

There is currently no nonstop scheduled passenger service between Paris and Entebbe.

Travellers generally have to connect through another international hub before reaching Uganda.

That creates additional journey time and can make a holiday more complicated, particularly for travellers purchasing organised tours or combining Uganda with other African destinations.

The issue featured prominently during IFTM Top Resa, held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 15 to 17 September 2026.

According to information attributed to the Ugandan Embassy in France following the meetings, more than 90% of French and Iberian travel buyers who engaged with Ugandan tourism businesses raised the absence of direct Paris–Entebbe connectivity as a commercial concern.

Their message was simple: growing interest in Uganda is there, but easier access could make the destination simpler to sell.

Uganda Targets Possible Paris Service in 2027

Ugandan officials are now looking at a potential direct route.

The government is reported to be advancing plans for Uganda Airlines to serve Paris by June 2027.

This should not yet be interpreted as a confirmed route launch.

Uganda Airlines has not published a final Paris timetable, frequency or booking schedule confirming that flights will begin on that date.

For travellers and travel businesses, June 2027 should therefore be treated as a government target rather than an operationally confirmed launch date.

If eventually introduced, however, Paris would represent an important extension of Uganda Airlines’ European ambitions.

The carrier already serves London Gatwick, giving Uganda a direct connection with the United Kingdom.

Paris would give the airline another major European gateway and potentially improve access not only from France but from surrounding markets.

Why French Travellers Matter to Uganda

The French market is attractive for reasons beyond arrival numbers.

Figures presented during Uganda’s Paris tourism campaign indicate that French visitors spend more than US$2,025 per trip and typically stay for approximately eight to 15 nights.

That profile fits particularly well with Uganda’s tourism model.

Many of the country’s leading attractions require travellers to move beyond Kampala and Entebbe and spend several days exploring different regions.

Among the experiences being promoted to European travellers are:

• mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga;
• wildlife safaris in Uganda’s national parks;
• Rwenzori Mountain trekking;
• Nile adventure experiences;
• birdwatching;
• cultural tourism; and
• community-based experiences.

Longer stays can allow visitors to combine several of these products rather than travelling to Uganda for one attraction alone.

Gorilla Tourism Remains Central to European Sales

Mountain gorilla tourism remains one of Uganda’s strongest international attractions.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park provide the country’s principal gorilla trekking experiences.

The importance of this product was evident at IFTM Top Resa.

Commercial discussions between Ugandan tourism companies and European buyers included gorilla permit allocations for 2027 and 2028, alongside rates, itineraries and future contracts.

That suggests the Paris campaign moved beyond destination promotion into actual product planning.

It is significant for tourism businesses because gorilla trekking requires advance organisation. Permits, accommodation, transport and other itinerary components often need to be coordinated well before arrival.

Improved international air access could make that sales process easier.

Eleven Ugandan Tourism Companies Take Their Products to Paris

Uganda’s private-sector presence at IFTM Top Resa also increased substantially.

Eleven Ugandan destination management companies participated in the 2026 programme under the country’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy initiative.

The companies met European buyers interested in future tourism programmes, including business for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Uganda’s delegation included Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Susan Nakawuki and Ambassador Doreen Ruth Amule, Uganda’s Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

The Paris programme also brought together representatives of Uganda’s tourism, foreign affairs and wildlife institutions.

The objective was not simply to raise awareness. Officials were seeking commercial relationships that could convert destination interest into actual bookings.

AFCON 2027 Creates Another Tourism Opportunity

The timing of Uganda’s French-market campaign is particularly relevant because the country is preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Kenya and Tanzania.

The tournament provides another reason for European travel companies to develop East African itineraries.

Discussions in Paris already included multi-country tourism programmes connected with AFCON 2027.

That creates the possibility of combining football with wildlife, culture and adventure tourism.

A European visitor travelling to East Africa for the tournament could potentially extend the trip to include gorilla trekking, safari experiences or neighbouring countries.

A direct Paris–Entebbe service would potentially make such packages easier to build, particularly for French-speaking travellers.

Uganda Tourism Moves Beyond Its 2019 Benchmark

The broader tourism recovery provides important context for the Paris strategy.

Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism says 2025 arrivals reached 106% of the country’s pre-pandemic 2019 level.

Average visitor stays also reached approximately 8.8 nights.

The figures indicate that Uganda has moved beyond simply recovering lost tourism traffic and is now seeking new sources of international growth.

European markets could become increasingly important within that strategy because long-haul leisure travellers can support wildlife lodges, guides, tour operators, transport businesses and other parts of the tourism economy.

Ebola Outbreak Ended but Surveillance Remains Important

Uganda’s tourism campaign also comes after a significant public-health challenge.

The 2026 Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed cases in Uganda, including two deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

WHO and Africa CDC announced on 27 August 2026 that Uganda had completed 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case linked to the outbreak.

That milestone ended the enhanced monitoring period associated with the outbreak.

However, WHO continues to highlight the risk of imported cases because transmission remains active in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

For tourism reporting, the distinction is important: Uganda completed its outbreak monitoring period, while the wider regional health situation continues to require surveillance.

Direct Aviation Could Determine the Next Stage of Growth

Uganda’s strong performance in France illustrates an important tourism challenge.

Marketing can generate demand, but air connectivity influences how easily that demand becomes actual travel.

A destination requiring lengthy connections can be harder for tour operators to package than one offering straightforward nonstop access.

For Uganda, this means the proposed Paris connection could eventually influence several parts of the visitor economy, including:

• French leisure arrivals;
• organised safari bookings;
• gorilla trekking demand;
• business travel;
• meetings and events;
• AFCON 2027 tourism; and
• combined East African itineraries.

The commercial case will ultimately depend on passenger demand, operating costs, aircraft availability, route economics and Uganda Airlines’ wider network strategy.

Conclusion: Uganda and France Eye Direct Paris Entebbe Flights as French Tourism Demand More Than Doubles

Uganda and France are eyeing stronger direct Paris–Entebbe flight connectivity as French tourism demand more than doubles, creating a potentially important new phase for Uganda’s European visitor market.

The evidence behind the tourism opportunity is substantial. Uganda received 7,439 French visitors in 2025, while its overall international arrivals reached 1.64 million and tourism receipts climbed to US$1.62 billion.

Trade discussions at IFTM Top Resa 2026 showed that European buyers are already negotiating future Uganda programmes, including gorilla permits and 2027–28 travel products. At the same time, buyers have identified the lack of nonstop Paris connectivity as a barrier to further expansion.

A Uganda Airlines service targeted for 2027 could help address that problem, particularly as Uganda prepares to co-host AFCON with Kenya and Tanzania.

For now, however, the distinction is important: French tourism growth is confirmed, while the direct Paris flight remains a proposed service awaiting a formal Uganda Airlines schedule. If that final aviation link materialises, Uganda and France could enter a considerably stronger period of tourism connectivity.