The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities concluded the 10th Annual Sector Review Conference on the September 18 at the Hotel Africana and Convention Centre in Kampala under the theme: Tourism as a Dynamic Driver for social-economic transformation.
The Director Tourism James Lutalo attributed the good performance of the sector mainly to gorilla sales whereby 74% of the gorilla tracking permits were sold and revenue was above the projected UGX 85 billion (US$ 24Million).
Government is looking to diversify Uganda’s tourism product in various areas including MICE Tourism by constructing a Convention Centre in Entebbe, investing in Cable cars on Mount Ruwenzori pending feasibility studies, developing Lake Victoria and developing The Nile as a world class tourism site.
International visitor arrivals increased by 7.4% from 1 402 409 in 2017 to 1 505 669 in 2018 generating US$ 1.6 billion compared to US$ 1.45 billion in 2017. Growth was driven by Europe (13.8%), the Americas (9.2%), Asia (10.2%) and Middle East (9.7%) markets.
Visitors to national parks increased by 14% to 325 345 visitors in 2018 whereas visitors to the selected tourist sites rose by 19% amounting to 581 616 visitors.
Other developments in the sector included the assenting of the Wildlife Actby the President and the creation of 5 CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) border points.
After the day of deliberations, a wrap-up session of the following points of action were drafted to focus on for the year ahead.
- Improve hospitality skills of tourism players along the tourism value chain
- Strengthen and diversify tourism products range
- Strengthen conservation of natural and cultural heritage
- Improve tourism infrastructure including air, water and road transport
- Strengthen quality assurance and regulation of the sector including marine tourism
- Aggressive promotion and marketing of the destination domestically, regionally and internationally
