Amos Wekesa Masaba
2 September 2008
opinion
Kampala — We as the private sector players focused on tourism in Uganda have had a very hard working environment especially this year. The sky-rocketing prices of fuel, falling of the dollar and general cost of living in Uganda took up most of the possible profits we as UTA (Uganda Tourism Association) members could have earned.
This has been so because foreign tourists, unlike Ugandans, plan and pay for these safaris a year in advance. Since we had received their monies in advance, we had no choice but to execute their safaris.
The above and the obvious lack of interest by government to market Uganda as a tourism destination has brought a thick cloud cover that needs a quick redemption.
The worst news for UTA members is that Uganda has been suspended from the World Tourism Organisation for not paying dues. WTO membership plays a very important role in the global tourism industry in general and lack of membership will see Uganda fall deeper in trouble as a country and will be affecting the industry that has created jobs, (17 per cent of the employable labour) earns the highest forex incomes, etc...Lack of membership also clouds the credibility of Ugandan tour operators in the eyes of suppliers from other countries, and will cause us to lose out on thousands of dollars worth of business.
We have been expecting parliament to convene and discuss this issue as a matter of urgence but being something that has nothing to do with their votes we do not have hope that this will be discussed even a year from now.
One thing that both opposition and ruling party MPs in Kenya agree on is the marketing their country to rest of the world as a tourism destination and this year alone Kenya ear marked 4m dollars towards the same cause but here tourism never gets a mention and any member of parliament that will champion the discussion on tourism will win the hearts many since it creates jobs and empowers citizens deep in villages. Alive example we have today is Buhoma, the villages near Bwindi national park, here the villagers understand value differences between dollar, pound and even the euros all because of tourism.
With our exploding population, Uganda's biggest challenges will be severe unemployment and destruction of our general eco-system (obviously eco-system plays a major role in attracting potential tourists to Uganda). My personal opinion is that the President of Uganda should make redundant the majority of advisers who have ignored what could remove Ugandans from abject poverty (tourism). The World Bank has discovered that tourism creates more jobs as compared to any other industries especially in the developing world.
It's the only area where we stand potentially high since we are among the top 10 countries in terms bio-diversity which bio-diversity means relative abundance of flora and fauna and general eco-system which is facing a risk of extinction now. We should learn both conservation and strategic marketing from our neighbours like Tanzania, Kenya and especially Rwanda being a new comer that has stood out in marketing its potential to the rest of the world.
Just as a reminder, Uganda has the highest density of primates (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Olive Baboons, to mention but a few) of any country on earth. Kibale Forest and Bwindi National Parks have 16 per cent of the polypore fungi recorded from North America and Europe.
Other attractions in Uganda include a large portion of Lake Victoria, mountains, diversity of culture, good weather and the Nile which provides the best rafting opportunity on earth in terms of 1 to 3 days rafting. In addition Uganda has more birds per square km as compared to any country on the continent and in conclusion Uganda is one big tourist attraction from the North to South and from the East to West.
Tourism has the highest trickle down effect as compared to any other sector in a given country. On average a tourist spends between USD150 to 250 per day they spend in Uganda and this expenditure will always follow the tourists itinerary. If this tourist spends 14 days then the country will retain an average of USD 2500 and if you compare this to tomato growers, how long will a tomato grower wait to earn this kind of money?
We are not saying we should not consider agriculture, rather harness from our business potential. The most interesting example is that one gorilla permit costs $500 which allows only one individual to see mountain gorillas for one hour only, and yet these permits are bought up to 2 years in advance.
The president, while addressing students this month, lamented on how Ugandans are so focused on Obama and the Premier League instead of something about Uganda, here my take is that we as Ugandans have not done anything to stand out of the crowd like Kenya with it's Athletes and Tourism or Rwanda winning the International Awards on travel fairs and "Ikwata Inzina" - the gorilla naming ceremony, etc...
The above reminds me much about my past experience while attending tourism fairs in Europe. Whenever I saw a Ugandan (living in Diaspora) heading towards my stand I would shudder because they would invariably say very negative words about Uganda in front of potential tourists to Uganda, and yet a former foreign visitor to Uganda visiting the exhibition stand will go on and on praising Uganda about how beautiful it is and how it has become their favourite destination.
It's an issue of lack of branding of Uganda, because if branding is done then Ugandans' attitudes towards the country will automatically change.
Mr Wekesa is the President Uganda Tourism Association
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