The above
announcement while positively excellent, fails to highlight
the underlying reasons that despite its perfect setting
and tourism diversity, Uganda tourism still falls low
on the table of preferred African destinations which
Kenya and South Africa dominate. Surprisingly, only just
over 20% of visitors to Uganda are tourists. The key
fact attributing to Uganda's low tourism figures is lack
of promotion. Despite having some of the best attractions
in Africa and the only opportunity to be so close to
nature, it seems one of the best kept tourism secrets!
Attention to Uganda's tourism industry
which is constrained both in financial and human resources
is long overdue. Since Uganda's 2008 Tourism Act not much
has changed, except another tax on tourism, which has
not even been implemented yet. There is a dire need for
re-investment into the tourism infrastructure, both at
governmental and local beneficiary level.
Another attributing fact is the political
infighting on the subject of tourism that has existed
for far too long. There has been no clear workable direction
for several years, leaving other African destinations
to capitalise on the absence of Uganda in the tourism
market place. While the UK still amounts for the largest
influx of tourists to Uganda, other sources such as the
far east have been largely ignored. Though many of the
lodges or hotels are maybe below the standards of the
new emerging wealthy far eastern tourists, their are
some 5 star luxury places. Investment into
the industry and updating of tourism stakeholders holdings
are imperative if Uganda is to accomplish its rightful
place at the top and attract the right tourists and investors.
But unfortunately this will not happen unless a coordinated
effort is made and the present tourism administration
system in Uganda is either scrapped and re-built or major
changes are made within the existing structure.
It is indeed regrettable that in 2012
which is Uganda's 50 year Jubilee period and the
2012 Trip Advisor award of Best place in Africa, that
none of that has been capitalised upon. A massive
tourism opportunity that has slipped away due to no clear
direction or sustainable promotional infrastructure.
However, all that is about to change
with large governmental initiatives planned to promote
and brand tourism to Uganda over the coming years. Much
has been talked about which may even see the scrapping
of existing departments and emergence of a new official
tourism department (UTA Ugandan Tourism Authority) that
will have the benefit of input from outside consultancies
and professionals working with existing management and
staff. There
is however much work to be done and decisions to be made
though providing the correct collaboration is exercised,
then Uganda could emerge from the continent as the Pearl
of Africa it truly is and take its rightful pace in the
top of the African tourism charts. Uganda is possibly
the safest place in Africa and the only
place one can get so close to natures beauty,
wonders and animals.
See a detailed promotions example from
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See
traveler reviews on Uganda
Uganda Tourism
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Among the animals
By Peter Mandel - Washington Post  |
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