According to Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, the Tourism minister, tourist numbers
increased from 1.4 million to 1.62 million last year. FILE PHOTO
Kampala. United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has told government to raise its
tourism targets to generate foreign exchange for economic development.
Speaking during the ninth tourism sector review, Ms Rose Malango, the UNDP resident representative, said more investment is needed in the sector if Uganda is to achieve desired national development plans.
“When you go [to for instance] Dubai, UAE, you find videos everywhere [showcasing tourist sites]. Why can’t this be done here? We should look at increasing tourists target to 10 million by 2030,” she said.
Tourism is Uganda’s largest foreign exchange earner, raking in about $1.453b, according to 2017 data from the Ministry of Tourism. The sector contributes about 7.3 per cent annually to gross domestic product.
However, much of this is generated from foreign and so little from domestic tourists, which Ms Malango blamed on the lack of serious engagement to promote local tourism.
Uganda, she said, must leverage on its cultural diversity to promote domestic tourism.
According to Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, the Tourism minister, tourist numbers increased from 1.4 million to 1.62 million last year.
However, Mr Amos Wekesa, the African Great Safaris chief executive officer, said the growth was too small to celebrate when compared to regional neighbours.
“In Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport alone handles eight million tourists while Mombasa does six million. Cape Town does 22 million. We should be ashamed of these numbers. We should do more marketing and funding to the tourism sector to raise our targets to what will have a good multiplier effect,” he said.
Prof Kamuntu said the review was an opportunity for sector stakeholders to discuss performance and guide on the direction that should be taken.
jkiggundu@ug.nationmedia.com
Speaking during the ninth tourism sector review, Ms Rose Malango, the UNDP resident representative, said more investment is needed in the sector if Uganda is to achieve desired national development plans.
“When you go [to for instance] Dubai, UAE, you find videos everywhere [showcasing tourist sites]. Why can’t this be done here? We should look at increasing tourists target to 10 million by 2030,” she said.
Tourism is Uganda’s largest foreign exchange earner, raking in about $1.453b, according to 2017 data from the Ministry of Tourism. The sector contributes about 7.3 per cent annually to gross domestic product.
However, much of this is generated from foreign and so little from domestic tourists, which Ms Malango blamed on the lack of serious engagement to promote local tourism.
Uganda, she said, must leverage on its cultural diversity to promote domestic tourism.
According to Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, the Tourism minister, tourist numbers increased from 1.4 million to 1.62 million last year.
However, Mr Amos Wekesa, the African Great Safaris chief executive officer, said the growth was too small to celebrate when compared to regional neighbours.
“In Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport alone handles eight million tourists while Mombasa does six million. Cape Town does 22 million. We should be ashamed of these numbers. We should do more marketing and funding to the tourism sector to raise our targets to what will have a good multiplier effect,” he said.
Prof Kamuntu said the review was an opportunity for sector stakeholders to discuss performance and guide on the direction that should be taken.
jkiggundu@ug.nationmedia.com
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