DAR ES SALAAM, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The East African Community (EAC) is actively promoting the region as a single, unified tourism destination, the regional bloc announced in a statement issued late Saturday.

The announcement was made during Karibu-Kilifair 2025, East Africa's largest tourism expo, which concluded on Sunday in Tanzania's northern tourist city of Arusha.

According to the EAC, the three-day event drew over 500 exhibitors from more than 15 countries, as well as over 1,000 international buyers, trade visitors, media professionals and tourism industry leaders.

The initiative aims to bring together tourism stakeholders from EAC member states, including national tourism boards, tour operators, hoteliers and service providers, within a coordinated framework to encourage cross-border partnerships, co-branding, and the promotion of multi-destination travel packages, the statement said.

The ultimate goal, according to the statement, is to enhance the region's visibility, strengthen its competitiveness in the global tourism market, and foster sustainable development and investment. ■