Marketing funds needed for Uganda’s Tourism success

Tourism has experienced continued growth and deeper diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. ‎Modern tourism is closely linked to development and includes more new destinations for uganda safari tourists. These changes turned tourism into a key driver for socio-‎economic progress.‎ Hence making it become one of the major players in ‎international commerce, and represents at the same time one of the main income ‎sources for many developing countries like Uganda.

Nevertheless, Uganda has loads of Tour operators specializing in provision of uganda safari operations . The services range from tours, to flights and hotel booking. While planning for your safari to any destination of interest, it is very important to interact with the tour operators before you can make up your mind over which bwindi gorilla safaris uganda will take care of your tour. Every Uganda tour operator should be able provide any travel information you need regarding your Uganda safari; including visa, flights, hotels, travel and health insurance, security, communication among others.

The service sector is a main key player in the tourism industry that its contribution to Tourism development is essential. Besides, the chief executive of Uganda Tourist Board Mr. Cuthbert Baguma has on the occasion of World Tourism Day once again decried the absence of decent funding for the country’s premier tourism marketing and promotion body Uganda Tourism Board. This situation is not new, having persisted for the past 15 years, due to the lack of sustained follow up. After delegates of sponsored conferences left the country, interest evaporated suddenly as TV screens around the world showed other destinations.

Besides there is a new tourism law which provides for the funding of several components of the sector, like promotion, training, and related work through a levy, but squabbles over the question who collects, who receives, and who controls these funds have prevented the levy from being formally introduced. Still the old laws created by the tourist board and the national hotel training institute in 1994 had provisions for such funding, but again, because of sustained arguments over the control and the collection points, these opportunities were left idle, denying the Uganda Tourist Board and HTTI much needed funds for development, training, and promotional activities at home, in the region, and around the globe.

This correspondent had several years ago already pegged the minimum annual budget at US$1.5 million, a figure which needs substantial improvement now considering the level of funding for instance for Uganda’s main competitors like Rwanda, Kenya safari packages, or further abroad South Africa, which are funding wise in a different league altogether, and their successes speak volumes, of course.