Promote positive image of Uganda, minister tells media
Tourism minister Maria Mutagamba addresses journalists at Rwenzori Towers during the official launch of Miss Tourism last year. PHOTO BY Rachel Mabala.
What you need to know:
Forefront. Ms Mutagamba said it is the media’s role to front a positive image of the country.
Kampala. The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, has pleaded with the media and Ugandans to churn out positive stories that can promote the country’s image and attract tourists.
Tourism minister Maria Mutagamba said as the government struggles to increase the visibility of Uganda’s tourist attractions globally, efforts are undermined by failures in other sectors.
“Most of you travel abroad. All they know about Uganda is [former president Idi] Amin and Ebola. It is your role to erase that image to show that Uganda is a country with tourist attractions, fortunes, best climate and filled with opportunities,” Ms Mutagamba said.
She made the remarks yesterday while inaugurating the Tourism Communication Working Group (TCWG) comprised of information officers in the ministry and its six agencies, including Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Hotel Tourism and Training Institute (HTTI), Uganda Wildlife Tourism and Training Institute (UWTTI) and the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO)
The minister emphasised that while tourism is public sector-led, it is private sector-driven and highly dependent on perceptions.
The earnings
According to the tourism board, current tourist arrivals into Uganda have reached 1.4 million as of 2014 records, up from 600,000 in 2006.
These numbers have also seen the country’s earnings from tourists arrivals go up to $1.4 billion (about Shs4 trillion) in 2013-2014, up from $600,000 (about Shs2 billion) realised in 2006.
Ms Mutagamba observed that according to government’s Vision 2040, tourism should bring into the national coffers $12 billion (about Shs39 trillion) and hence become the number one foreign exchange earner. “That’s our yardstick. That’s our milestone. We need to know our roles so that we can hit the target.”
Cultural practices blamed
Ms Mutagamba said local tourism still remains low and blamed some cultural practices which discourage children from visiting outside family.
Ms Emma Nahayo Mugizi, the chairperson of the TCWG, described tourism as a fragile sector highly affected by either negative or positive information. “What happens in health, security, education and energy directly affects the number of tourists coming in a country,” Ms Mugizi said.
