Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati| Uganda Tourism Board [UTB] on Wednesday 10, February 2021 unveiled world 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei as one of Uganda’s tourism ambassadors.
Lilly Ajarova, UTB’s executive officer unveiled Cheptegei at a function held on Wednesday 10th at the Uganda Golf Club in Kampala.
“Today, we’ve reached an agreement with world champion @joshuacheptege1 as our tourism ambassador for brand Uganda. Welcome aboard, Joshua,” the Uganda Tourism Board tweeted on Wednesday.
Last year Cheptegei broke a 16-year-old world record in the 5,000m by over two seconds, clocking 12:35.36 in Monaco and also broke the 10,000m record in NN Valencia World Record Day in Valencia, Spain.
Cheptegei’s good performances at the international scene grabbed the interest of UTB who are rebranding tourism in Uganda after being greatly affected by the coronavirus pandemic that hit the entire world.
“Our annual visitor arrivals had been projected to grow to 1.6 million in 2020 but this was greatly affected by the pandemic, there are mixed signals about the tourism industry recovery in this year,” said Arajova.
The 24-year-old Cheptegei said he is happy to be selected and an ambassador for the UTB.
“I am deeply grateful to the Uganda Tourism Board for having chosen me this responsibility to be my country’s ambassador. I look forward to sharing my story to the rest of the world, in the same breath I wish to call upon every Ugandan especially those in the diaspora to make a point to visit and discover more about this country,” says Cheptegei.
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“I know every win is not just for me but it is a win for every one of the 700,000 Ugandans employed in the tourism sector whose livelihoods have been put at stake by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
UTB will now consequently use his images, photos, and videos in promoting Uganda’s tourism.
