Gorilla Tourism after Dian Fossey
September 15, 2018New Gorilla Families in Bwindi National Park
September 17, 2018Emerging as the country’s leading foreign exchange earner in the past two consistent years, Uganda’s tourism sector is targeting 10 trillion Uganda shillings by 2020.
With gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park as the major selling product in the country, in addition to wildlife diversity in the 10 national parks of Uganda, the beautiful scenery, misty mountains and kind smiley people, several travelers from all over the world flock Uganda to explore these wonderful features that the earth movements placed in Uganda.
Tourism is now contributing 10% of the country’s GDP with a stable growth from Shs 1.4 billion in 2007 to Shs 4.9 trillion at the present times and now the government is prioritizing the industry.
Prior to the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) in February at Sheraton Hotel Gardens, the chief Executive officer of the Uganda Tourism Board announced strategies to grow Uganda’s tourism revenue to Shs 10 trillion by 2020.
Mr. Asiimwe Stephen the Chief Executive Officer (UTB) declared several blue prints on how to push Uganda’s tourism industry to momentums in the coming two years. And to achieve this, it will be one goal chased by several tourism stake holders from the government, Ministry of Tourism, Uganda Tourism Board, private sector to the local communities.
More tourism festivals have been introduced in the country as a way of attaching more value to tourism activities, products and destinations. This year, Uganda will be holding the first gorilla festival just like it has been in Rwanda with the KwitaIzina ceremony. It will be a gorilla naming ceremony held every year in celebration of the mountain gorillas as the country’s iconic tourism product. Also other festivals like the Kampala city festival, Rolex festival and several others.
Mr. Asiimwe also urged to the Government to construct new roads connecting to tourism destinations and also improve the already existing ones that are in bad conditions. First the roads that link to Uganda’s iconic features; the mountain gorillas, especially the road that connects to Rushaga sector in Bwindi impenetrable national park and several other roads were outlined.
Local tourism is to also be more emphasized through marketing to the local audience. Also the destinations and accommodation facilities are to set fair and discounted prices for Ugandans as a way of attracting them to visit the destinations with and get to know more about their mother country.
The government of Uganda is also in the advanced stages of reviving the national carrier which will still help in growing the industry. This will enable cheaper direct flights to the country and also a marketing platform to inform all its clients about the beautiful wonders that the pearl of Africa keeps.
The Uganda Tourism Board CEO requested the government to allow direct international flights to game parks. This will be easing the accessibility of these hidden treasures in the remote countries. Also travelers that have been avoiding destination Uganda because of the long driving hours to national parks will get the passion again.
The security is to also be tightened in order to enable the safety and security of the tourists on safaris in Uganda. Police stations are to be placed in almost all towns to keep law and order. Also guides are to be more trained to acquire more skills.
Mr. Asiimwe still pledged for more investments especially in the accommodation sector. He said that most of the hotels are high end and limit our clients to only luxury travelers. He urged that more midrange and budget lodges should be invested in more.
Undoubtedly, with these strategies well implemented, there is no single way that Uganda is going to fail to achieve the Shs.10 trillion by 2020.
