By Aloysious Kasoma
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has announced strategies to grow Uganda’s tourism revenue from US$1.4bn to US$2.7bn (Shs9.8 trillion) by 2020.
This was revealed by UTB Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Asiimwe during the launch of this year’s Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) on Monday at UTB offices along Lugogo Bypass.
The expo is slated for 23rd – 25th February at Sheraton Hotel Gardens.
Asiimwe said that if the opportunities available in the tourism industry are effectively utilized, Uganda’s tourism potential is enormous.
“We’re targeting $2.7bn [tourism revenue] by 2020. The government is in advanced stages of reviving the national carrier which will help grow the industry,” Asiimwe said, adding:
“The government has now prioritized the sector which has emerged as the top foreign exchange earner consistently for [the last] 2 years,” he said.
Uganda is reported to have earned over US$1.4bn which is 10% of the Gross Domestic Product last year.
Asiimwe says Ugandans should utilize the opportunity of the growing sector by investing massively in restaurants, hotels and Casinos among others in numerous Game Parks, islands, forests among others.
“We need more services in over 80 islands in L. Victoria, need more
hotels for people who move upcountry. The accommodation is expensive
because there is no competition; People need to invest beyond Kampala
and Entebbe,” Asiimwe said, adding that the objective of the expo is to showcase the hotels, Uganda’s cultural diversity and other tourist attractions people shouldn’t die without visiting.
