Paul Tentena
23 December 2008
Kampala — THE Government is to increase funding for tourism marketing to ensure the sector prospers, the tourism trade and industry minister, Janat Mukwaya, has promised.
Mukwaya said coordinated efforts by the Government have led to an increase in tourists from 540,000 in 2006 to 642,000 in 2007.
She was inaugurating Uganda Tourism Board's (UTB) directors at Metropole Hotel in Kampala on Monday.
UTB has been lacking a board since July 2007 when the one headed by Roni Madhvani resigned due to lack of funding.
This financial year, the tourism sector was allocated 5% of its total collections. The collections amount to $784m (sh1,552b).
"The developments are not so significant considering Uganda's plentiful natural and cultural resources, which can form the basis for a lucrative tourism industry and Uganda becoming a top tourist destination in the region."
Mukwaya said the new board has to ensure that tourism becomes the leading economic sector.
"Your functions include creating synergy between the private sector and relevant entities in formulating and implementing a marketing strategy for the industry outside Uganda," she explained.
The board is headed by a lawyer, William Byaruhanga, who is also the chaiman of Uganda Hotel Owners Association.
Others are Sylvia Tereka of the National Planing Authority, Mariam Walugembe of MIFUMI, former Buganda Katikkiro Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, Grace Awulo, a tourism commissioner, Tom Wasswa from the Civil Aviation Authority, Moses Mapesa of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Roger Wamara of SN Brussels and James Bahinguza as an ex-official.
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