Local investors told to invest in hotel business

Local investors have been challenged to invest in the hotel business in the National parks, where there is enormous growth potential.

The Uganda Tourism Board said accommodation in parks is increasingly becoming expensive, thus the need for local investors build hotels in parks and compete with existing players.

Government has over the years called for additional investments in the hospitality sector to enhance the growing volume of tourists but also to lower accommodation rates.

Accommodation fees especially in the parks are believed to be so high and are in most cases paid in dollars.

Edmund Kajura Asiimwe is one of the local tourists said thousand of Ugandans have the passion to embrace domestic tourism but the industry is so expensive.

Stephen Asiimwe the executive director Uganda tourism board said accommodation in Uganda is still expensive compared to other East African Community member states.

This is however blamed on the fact that the sector is dominated by foreign investors.

Meanwhile the Uganda Tourism Board is organising a tourism expo where thousands of players in the sector will show case their tourism products.

The 4th Pearl of Africa Tourism expo will take place between February 23 and 25.