HOIMA, September 27, 2023 – As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Tourism Day 2023 today, district leaders in Bunyoro Sub-region have been challenged to promote tourism in the region.
Speaking on Monday during a tourism regional conference organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Wilber Ahebwa who teaches tourism and conservation at Makerere University in Kampala expressed dismay that out of 10 districts comprising Bunyoro Sub-region, only one district has a tourism development plan.
The conference attended by different stakeholders from the private sector, local governments, and conservationists from Hoima City, Hoima, and Kikuube districts was one of the many activities held as the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities prepared to commemorate World Tourism Day celebrations in Hoima on Wednesday under the theme, “Tourism and Green Investment”.
Ahebwa said development plans are needed to grow the tourism sector in the districts, adding limited community awareness about tourism potential, limited local investment in the sector, population pressure on natural resources in the region, lack of harmonisation of tourism and conservation activities between Uganda and DR Congo are some of the challenges affecting tourism.
He noted Bunyoro Sub-region has a lot of tourism potential that is untapped yet it can bring money to the region and the Ugandan economy at large. He urged leaders in the region to support the tourism sector.
He noted Bunyoro has an abundance of natural features such as parks, mountains, unique features such as Murchison Falls, diverse culture, water bodies such as Lake Albert, and forests such as Bugoma.
He also challenged the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom subjects not to only focus on oil and gas but also invest in tourism and hospitality as well as agriculture.
He noted that, unlike oil, tourism is a non-depletable resource that is able to sustain the economy of Uganda for thousands of years.
Tourism here is a green gold. Are you aware that tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner for Uganda? I know that time will come when we shall have no oil but we shall have tourism forever and ever. We need to see how to develop synergies so that we are able to develop oil as we promote tourism as well,” he said.
He noted last year tourism earned Uganda US$736 million [Shs 2.7 trillion], adding that growing tourist numbers are estimated to have reached 1.5mln that year, contributing 7.7 percent to GDP.
Kikuube district Chairman, Peter Banura said that the national tourism development plans are always formulated without the involvement of the local governments.
He noted that Bunyoro Sub-region has been neglected in terms of promoting the tourism sector, adding it lacks a plan on how to develop the sector.
Grace Koonjo, the director of Kontiki Hotel who represents the private sector in Hoima City said promoting tourism is at their heart but that they lack information. He urged the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to launch an initiative aimed at promoting tourism in Bunyoro Sub-region.
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Minister for Tourism, Abdul Kasagama challenged the government to establish a tourism coordination centre in the region to address the challenge of inadequate information.
He also challenged the players in the sector to develop the spirit of working together, arguing that working in isolation is another big problem.
Sylvia Nalumaga the Hoima City deputy mayor commended the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for choosing the city to host the national celebrations for World Tourism Day, adding leaders will work to promote tourism in the city.
https://thecooperator.news/unwto-members-meet-to-rethink-agenda-for-african-tourism/
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