Latest Posts

EU Calls For Fresh Ideas To Revive Uganda’s Tourism Sector

The European Union (EU) Ambassadors to Uganda have appealed to government to consider having in place a comprehensive master plan that will ensure the resuscitation of the country’s tourism sector.

Tourism together with others sectors in the country have been hit by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The sector came to a standstill in March after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced the closure of all borders, together with Entebbe International Airport, followed by the suspension of both private and public transport, business premises and any form of public gatherings. 

The measures meant that all tourist sites had to be shut to the public and this led to the cancellation of several bookings by foreign tourists as well as the cancellation of international events which Uganda was scheduled to host starting as early as February 2020.

Tourism is one of Uganda’s top foreign exchange-earners with annual receipts of US Dollars 1.6 billion brought in by 1.8 million tourists according to the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). Out of the 1.8 million tourists, 1.3 million are foreigners while 500,000 are local tourists.

However according to Jeanne Byamugisha, the Executive Director Uganda Hotel Owners Association, this trend is about to change and Uganda expects to lose US Dollars 1.6 billion tourism revenue of which 45 percent comes from the hotel industry. 

She also noted that a recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicated that in five years’ time, Uganda will not have achieved the 1.6 million tourists who have been coming in annually due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and therefore limited revenue from the sector.

Uganda was targeting to hit 4 million tourists by 2020.

She said that something crucial like provision of tax holidays or a stimulus package has to be done for the sector to be resuscitated and bring in money for the country.

Byamugisha was speaking at a press briefing by the European Union delegation led by the EU Ambassador Attilio Pacifici on Saturday.

The delegation comprising of the Ambassador of France to Uganda Jules-Armand ANIAMBOSSOU, Italian Ambassador Massimiliano Mazzanti, the Ambassador of Belgium Rudi Veestraeten and the Austria Head of Office Dr. Roswitha Kremser have since Thursday camped in Western Uganda to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the Tourism Sector.

Ambassador Attilio Pacifici said that the EU is not seeking to solve the entire problem in the tourism sector but rather leading the way to ensure that the sector is revived. 

The Belgian Ambassador Rudi Veestraeten said that Uganda needs an active response towards the tourism sector even before the pandemic is over.

“There is need to do something else in this country than to sit back and wait for the crisis to be over. If Uganda does that, it might take a long time before this sector recovers. The country needs to have a new master plan,” said Veestraeten.

He said that the new master plan should take into consideration of conserving what is in place, active support to private sector development and others.

Dr. Roswitha Kremser, the Austria Head of Office noted that the impact on the tourism sector does not only end with the operators but also communities that provide different goods and services to the tourism sites and accommodation facilities like food stuffs.

She said that there is need for Uganda to creatively re-boost the sector and that this is something they are going to discuss with different government agencies to forge a way forward.

The Ambassador of France to Uganda Jules-Armand ANIAMBOSSOU also noted that Uganda’s new approach in the tourism sector can concentrate on developing and protecting its eco-tourism, marketing differently and professionally and others.

For the Italian Ambassador Massimiliano Mazzanti, re-opening the country’s International Airport will be key in reviving the sector and ensuring that the economy fights the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During their four day assessment of the COVID-19 impact on the tourism sector, the EU ambassadors interfaced with lodge and tourism operators in Kanungu, Kasese and Fort portal. 

The delegation also commissioned a Ranger’s Outpost at Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth National Park that will accommodate rangers who protect the wildlife at the Park from poachers near the tourist site and those from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Ambassadors also interacted with different businessmen in the tourism industry at Mweya Safari Lodge among others.  

********

URN

Loading

Don't Miss

EXPOSED! Muyenga Tycoon’s Maid Cited In Land Wrangle

In recent days, Muyenga, Y2K Zone a push Kampala suburb,

Parliament Orders Closure Of Fuelex Petrol Stations For Adulterating Fuel

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade And Industry led by Mbarara

Big Story: Parliament Probes UETCL Bosses Over Corruption, Mismanagement & Controversial UGX 28Billion Compensation Deal

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Environment and Natural

‘Back Off Buganda Land’ Kabaka Mutebi Castigates People Pushing For Abolition Of Mailo Land Tenure System

The Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has

Big Story: IGG Probes Over Shs1bn Ubos Fraud

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is investigating top officials

EXPLOSIVE: How Speaker Kadaga & Confidant Hon. Okupa Spent Over US $764,000 (Shs2.8 BN) In-less Than 2 Years In Travels Abroad

Since taking office as Deputy Speaker of Parliament way back

Ham Vs DTB Appeal: Bank Of Uganda Runs Out Of Case, Leaves DTB To Carry Its Own Cross

Bank of Uganda has officially quit the case involving city

Amnesty International Joins Push To Free Presidential Runner Robert Kyagulanyi

The Ugandan authorities must immediately lift the police and military

Exporters Call For Strong Action Against EAC States’ Trade Barriers

Manufacturers have called on the government to impose tough measures

Big Story: How KCCA Officials Messed Up Youth Fund Programs, Stole Billions of Gov’t Funds In Shoddy Deals

Kampala: If there is any government Authority that frustrating President

I Predict Museveni, NRM Victory In 2021 Elections

By Faruk Kirunda Kampala: As we dive into the high

Crisis: Lord Mayor Lukwago Defies Court Order, Appoints Balondemu As Chairman K’la District Land Board

Veteran lawyer Hajji Elias Lukwago, who is the Kampala city

Scandal: Stanbic Bank Bosses Allegedly Steal Borrowers’ Land Titles, Mortgage Them To Dfcu Bank

Several officials at Stanbic Bank are in deep trouble after

Scandal: KCCA Officials On Spot For Blowing Shs 8Bn Under The Guise Of Renovating Old Tax Park

Several officials at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), are

Covid-19 Crisis: Ugandan Students Expected To Sit For UNEB Exams In March 2021

All indications are that a dead year will not be

BoU To Appeal In Supreme Court Over Trashed Crane Bank Case

The Bank of Uganda (BOU) has said it will be

Shame As Top Police Boss Is Convicted Of Car Theft, Ordered To Pay Over Shs282M

Untold shame has engulfed the Uganda Police a senior officer

Just In! Energy Mafias Rock Parliament As Patriotic Young Turks Question AIGP Akullo’s Involvement In Min. Energy Corruption

Panic has rocked Parliament as renowned Parliamentarian and Lawyer Hon.

Energy Mafias Debunked Part III: How Werikhe, Turyagyenda Corruptly Swindled Shs15 Bn For 3 Electricity Distribution Projects In Acholi, Bunyoro & Kiruhura

FUNDING THE COUP THROUGH ENERGY AND MINERALS CORRUPTION By the

Just In: Top Energy Officials Fired On Presidential Orders Over Massive Theft Of Electricity Distribution Funds

By Our Reporter Kampala: Two senior officials of Rural Electrification

Salary Scam Hits KCCA AS 29bn Is Paid To Ghost Workers

After Eng Andrew Kitata took over as the acting Executive

DSTV, GOTV Subscription Fees Skyrocket Effective September 1st

MultiChoice Uganda, the mother company to DStv and GOtv has

Just In: President Museveni Promotes Five UPDF Division Commanders

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s