Uganda tour operators have reiterated the
need for government to increase its funding budget to tourism marketing
to at least $5 million.
The operators say the government has not yet prioritized the sector giving it little attention.
The government and the World Bank recently signed a credit financing
facility of $25 million to tourism, of which $12 million were allocated
to the revamping of the Jinja Tourism Training Institute. About
$3million was allotted to building capacity in the Uganda Tourism Board
and the tourism ministry.
However, the remaining $10million has not been assigned according to Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba.
It's this $10million balance what tour operators want the government to avail to tourism marketing this year.
"Funding towards tourism marketing is still very low. Kenya provides
$34 million to marketing, Tanzania ($12 million), Rwanda ($5 million),
Burundi ($1.5 million) and Uganda- only $90,000. Even the new management
at UTB will struggle with such kind of funding.
The sector should be given minimum $5m if we're serious with tourism
as a business," said Ms. Kelly McTavish Mungar the Managing Director
Pearl of Africa Tours and Travel.
"Uganda's tourism industry has been confined. It's given limited
attention yet it's a multi-billion generating sector," added Mr.
Cuthbert Baguma the immediate former Executive Director of the Uganda
Tourism Board, the official government tourism marketing agency.
This was during a breakfast meeting in Kampala where the Uganda
Investment Authority presented a study and findings of the constraints
to fast tracking tourism development in Uganda.
The study- Building Competitiveness in Tourism as a strategic
intervention for attracting quality investment was carried out and
presented by Rebecca Wamono of the Uganda Investment Authority.
According to her findings, the lack of identity/brand at the
international level, inadequate value addition of tourism products and
services, the negative media publicity that discourages international
travelers and tourists and the insufficient supporting infrastructure
and utilities like roads, energy, and air travel makes it difficult to
attract high end international investors and joint ventures in tourism.
She said the lack of a national carrier and the very few domestic
carriers have affected marketing, flight numbers and visitors to Uganda.
"The impact of the construction of the 180MW Isimba Hydro Power
Project on water rafting on the Victoria Nile is huge as well as the
lack of national mentorship programme for children and the general
public about tourism and conservation," Wamono noted in her findings.
Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba advised the different tourism
associations to get united and always compile, and disseminate the right
figures for proper planning.
"Tourism is currently a disjointed sector. We need to build
competitiveness in the sector by always proving the correct tourism
figures and statistics," she advised the meeting.
James Tumusiime, the Chairman of the Uganda Tourism Board, warned the
grumbling different associations in tourism not to make his body a
rival of other agency organizations
"UTB is ready to fly with the new management. Invest in areas that
empower Public Private Partnerships," Tumusiime advised the private
sector in tourism.
Herbert Byaruhanga, the president of Uganda Tourism association said
the government should create an enabling environment for local tourism
investors to invest by allowing them tax waivers and holidays.
EAC countries are also working towards a single destination marketing plan.
SOURCE
East African Business Week (Kampala)
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