Tourism: Government devising strategy to spur growth, competition

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has embarked on plans to integrate different ministries along the tourism value chain in a "multi - sectoral forum" a strategy aimed at spurring competitiveness and innovation in the sector.

The Uganda Tourism Association however said the existing challenges like inadequate funding and visibility in both domestic and high end source markets need to be addressed if the sector players are to benefit from this strategy.

The revelations were made as Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Tourism Day which falls on September 27.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has recorded a 4% increase in tourism members globally, despite the slump orchestrated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some say the dire need for innovativeness and rethinking of the old strategies are responsible for this trend something that the sector minister Tom Butime said will spur competitiveness

Frank Tumwebaze, the minister of Agriculture who was the the keynote speaker at the World Tourism day Celebration in Kampala, said for Uganda to largely benefit from the progress made in the sector, a multi sectoral forum integrating ministries, legislators and value chain stakeholders is necessary to address challenges that come with the recovery process.

"Uganda is our country so we need to work handy through integrating different stakeholders in the sector", Tumwebaze said.

The private sector under the Uganda Tourism Association said there's a need to double funding options, as well as create more visibility in key source markets like Europe if the integration is to yield.