Tourism board 'not doing enough for Jinja
There is a growing concern among sector players in the tourism industry regarding the limited attention by Uganda Tourism Board to market tourist sites in Jinja.
According to stakeholders UTB has not given much attention to some of the major tourist attractions in the area.
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Kevin Amanya aka Amanya Owe Jinja, a prominent tour agent in Jinja asks that UTB opens a regional office in Jinja to enhance promoting all the major tourism sites.
"When UTB is marketing tourism in Jinja they always consider the source of River Nile yet we have equally other tourists attractions like Busowoko falls," the disgruntled tour guide said.
Ashraf Nasser the Mayor of Jinja Southern Division says Jinja has good hotels but whenever Uganda hosts international summits no hotel in Jinja is considered yet they are up to standard.
"We recently held the NAM and China G7 summit but all guests were housed in Kampala and Entebbe yet Jinja has modern facilities as well, considering the economic multiplier effects such summits come with our business missed alot,"Ashraf said.
In reply the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Tourism Board Bradford Ochieng said majority proprietors of hotels in Jinja have failed to put the necessary requirements for their hotels to be graded as required by the international standards .
He said UTB has embarked on retooling all the sector players to equip them with skills how to market their businesses and also add value to the sector.
He said this during a stakeholders engagement in Jinja organised by Uganda Tourism Board.
