Despite intense engagements, positive media coverage and ranking as well as events that should market Uganda, the country’s tourism sector braved a difficult 2015, with earnings projected to be lower than the previous year’s figure. In 2014, the sector was the leading forex earner, raking in $1.4 billion. Late last year, Uganda alongside Kenya and Central African Republic hosted Pope Francis. This, tourism sector executives argue, will help to market one of the country’s signature products — the Uganda Martyrs — and dispel the image of East Africa as a hotbed for terrorism.
Yet, even as hosting Pope Francis remains a boon for the region, players in Uganda’s tourism sector say that when the numbers for 2015 earnings are finally in, they will not compare with those of 2014. While MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events] grew, there were marked drops in bookings for nature tourism. “We are sure we can take Uganda up there in 2016 using MICE. Singapore has no game parks but its tourism survives on MICE,” said the CEO of Uganda Tourism Board, Stephen Asiimwe.
Infrastructure
Players also feel that the country’s inferior infrastructure needs to be improved. For instance, Uganda has only one international airport — Entebbe. In spite of a difficult 2015, Uganda won several accolades including the best African exhibitor at the Indaba tourism fair in Durban, South Africa in May and the Grand Award for best overall exhibition stand and best stand design at Magical Kenya Tourism Expo in October. Along with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, recently completed the mountain gorilla census, which revealed the country has 540 of the world famous primates.
“We are looking to maximise the census outcome because it creates a lot of interest when the numbers have gone up,” said Jossy Muhangi, spokesman of Uganda Wildlife Authority. Towards the end of 2015, sector players partnered with former Barcelona players who travelled to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track the mountain gorillas, and later put on an exhibition match in the capital city. “This was a big coup; We are already getting enquiries for flights out of Uganda to Barcelona,” said Amos Wekesa, former president of Uganda Tourism Association and proprietor of Great Lakes Safaris.
Source: The East African

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