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The Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) President, Mrs. Yogi Biriggwa, has urged the government and development partners to direct more efforts and resources to accelerate post-pandemic tourism sector recovery.
In a World Tourism Day 2024 speech delivered on her behalf by Mr Isa Kato, the Vice President, Yogi said that while there had been a near-full recovery of pre-pandemic figures, more investments were needed to meet the funding targets envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP) III.
According to the latest figures, international tourist receipts grew by 48.5% in 2023, from UGX.2.7 trillion in 2022 to UGX. 3.8 trillion (USD 1.01 billion). This is 83% of UGX 4.5 trillion(US$ 1.232 billion) recorded in 2019.
“This year’s World Tourism Day, therefore, is an opportunity to reflect on to what extent we are creating this thriving Ugandan tourism sector, especially in light of the 2020-2021 pandemic that brought the industry literally to its knees,” she reiterated.
However, she noted that, despite the sector’s near-full recovery, much is still needed to be done, and the Uganda Tourism Association board had already started engaging the Ministry’s leadership.
“We are glad they have given our new Board a listening ear, and we look forward to a more fruitful working relationship. However, we are also aware that the Ministry is limited in terms of resources. Over the last four years of the NDP III, they have only received 40% of the planned funding,” she emphasised.
Uganda is wonderfully made and gifted by nature and therefore requires optimal funding to refine, package, and market its prestine tourism offers.
“As we approach the last year of NDP III and look towards NDP IV, and as we start the budgeting cycle for FY2024/25, my call to the cabinet, the parliament, and our development partners is to allocate sufficient resources to ensure we get the most out of this Pearl of Africa. As the private sector, we are open to consultations on how best to direct our resources to maximise return on investment,” she reiterated, adding: “On behalf of the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) Board and members, I would like to renew our pledge to work with you to ensure we grow the volume and value of tourism to Uganda in service of our motherland”
Mrs. Biriggwa thanked the government, especially under the leadership of H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for the direct intervention in creating emergency responses such as the Credit Relief and Loan Restructuring Measures by the Bank of Uganda; the Small Business Recovery Fund (SBRF) and the European Union (EU) Tourism Facility and many other such initiatives that enabled a greater percentage of the tourism sector to withstand the effects of the pandemic.
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“The government has also made several other interventions, such as investments in security, transport and energy infrastructure, all of which have contributed to the sector’s recovery to about 83% of pre-pandemic tourism numbers,” she stressed.
“On this note, allow me to thank our mother ministry and the agencies therein under the leadership of Rtd Col. Dr. Tom Butime for stewarding this recovery. I would also like to thank our development partners and other friends in the tourism industry, such as the World Bank, the European Union, and Enabel (the Belgian Development Agency) etc., for supporting this recovery,” she added.
She commended the private sector players including, the accommodation facility owners, the tour operators, travel agents, tour guides, community-based organisations, cultural organisations, events and conference organisers, as well as arts and craftspeople.
These players, she said, are are the real last-mile face of Destination Uganda, in whose hands lies the ultimate responsibility of delivering an excellent visitor/tourist experience
In line with the World Tourism Day theme⏤ Tourism and Peace⏤ Mrs Biriggwa said, “Tourism, especially thriving tourism, is a good foundation for holistic peace”.
“Peace is a prerequisite for the success of tourism, and successful and thriving tourism reinforces more peace, she said, adding, “Thriving tourism facilitates overall happiness, and happy people are peaceful people”.
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