The Buganda Kingdom has called on young people, particularly contestants in the ongoing Miss Tourism Buganda beauty pageant, to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool for promoting the Kingdom's cultural heritage and tourism.
Speaking at the Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board headquarters in Mengo, the Board's Chief Executive Officer, Najib Nsubuga, said AI offers young people an opportunity to showcase Buganda's rich cultural heritage and Uganda's tourism potential to a global audience.
“If we use technology, especially Artificial Intelligence, to market Buganda and Uganda's cultural heritage and tourism to the rest of the world, we shall distinguish ourselves from other destinations and attract more visitors who want to learn about our culture and traditions,” Nsubuga said.
He noted that embracing AI in the tourism sector would not only strengthen destination marketing but also create employment opportunities for young people by opening up new careers in the digital economy.
“Using AI to promote tourism will also create jobs for the youth and open up new opportunities in the digital economy,” he added.
Nsubuga also challenged county chiefs from the four Buganda counties that did not participate in this year's competition to mobilise more young women to take part in future editions, saying broader participation would help showcase the Kingdom's diverse cultural heritage and tourism attractions.
This year's Miss Tourism Buganda competition has attracted 25 contestants representing 14 of Buganda's counties, while four counties are yet to field participants.
The pageant is part of Buganda Kingdom's wider efforts to promote cultural tourism by empowering young women to serve as ambassadors for the Kingdom's heritage, traditions and tourism potential.
The grand finale of the Miss Tourism Buganda pageant will be held on Friday, July 24, at Bulange, Mengo, where the winner will be crowned to champion Buganda's tourism and cultural promotion initiatives.
