East Africa Community (EAC) parks to be graded
National parks in the East African Community Countries are to be graded, an official from the Association of Uganda Tour Operators has revealed.
Mr Bonifance Byamukama the chairman Tour Operators Association said the exercise will be carried out depending on the products available in the parks and under this arrangement parks will be given different stars depending on product availability.
The 10 national parks in Uganda are already graded with Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks belonging to grade A because of the variety of products they offer.
However this time the grading will be done at a regional level. Kenya has about 10 national parks, Burundi has about three, and Tanzania has over 15 parks.
This comes after the five countries in East Africa agreed to issue a single tourist visa for travel throughout the region and are discussing a protocol to create and market the region as a single tourist destination.
The visa will allow tourists to move freely among the member countries of the East African Community.
The discussions include setting a common code of conduct for tour operators, establishing professional standards for travel agents, creating standardized hotel classifications and adopting common policies on wildlife management.
A collective policy for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife and other tourist sites in the region is also in the pipeline.
The introduction of the visa has, however, delayed. "In November we shall be going to the World Travel Market in the UK but each country has its own stall and will be marketing separately. There is need for one body to market the region because the countries have different products," said Byamukama.
“Uganda still faces a challenge in marketing her tourist attractions. Some of the roads like that leading to Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth national parks are impassible among others," noted Byamukama.
He said the tour operators are still facing a problem in accessing the new markets. "We cannot depend only on the traditional markets of the US and the UK. There are new markets emerging such as China and Asia which we need to tap in with the help of the government.
Byamukama added that tour operators face many challenges in marketing which they cannot address. "The tradition worldwide is that the government takes the initiative to penetrate markets by buying stalls and the service providers get onboard to showcase what they can offer," he argued.
Byamukama said matters have not been helped with the under funding of Uganda Tourism Board which would be doing the marketing.
He also said they are facing challenges in accessing financing since most banks do not look at tourism as a viable business.
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Can Eco-Tourism Save endangered Mountain Gorillas
In the world, there are just 700 of the mountain gorillas left on the planet, all of them living in the volcanic mountains spanning Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Decades of conflict in the region, along with poaching and human encroachment on their habitat have threatened their survival.
But money from 'gorilla tourism' has helped Rwanda reverse the trend of the shrinking population, with a small increase in mountain gorillas over the past five years.
The money is funding work to protect their forest habitat and anti-poaching patrols.
"We need the visitors because it is their money that helps to save the gorillas," said gorilla guide Kwizera Diogene.
One of the many women employed to make souvenirs for gorilla tourists
Rwanda is successfully conducting a delicate balancing act - restricting the number of visitors to ensure the gorillas are not disturbed but letting enough in to fund their protection.
Each group of gorillas is visited for just one hour a day by a maximum of eight tourists. Trips cost £300.
The gorillas are very curious and don't seem to mind visitors
“Deep in the forest we found a group of 20 silverbacks, with one huge male lounging on his side with a young gorilla clambering over him. He glanced at us, grunted, and then went back to munching a piece of tree bark.” Said Emma Hurd.
Coming face to face with the gorillas is a remarkable experience.
In their eyes you sense some kind of recognition, and some of the young males were so curious they wandered over to get a close look at us, brushing past our legs, Sky's Emma Hurd added.
"It was amazing to get so close," said American tourist Carol Hart. "It cost a lot of money but it was worth it."
Gorilla tourism is worth £3m a year to Rwanda and has created thousands of jobs.
Even former poachers like Anastase Gasaga now recognise the animals are worth more alive than dead.
"I make money helping the foreigners see the gorillas, so I don't need to poach anymore,"
He said.
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Uganda Removes Limits to Tourism
Uganda Government has decided to remove exclusive zones in her national parks to boost park tourism following the construction of new accommodation facilities.
Twenty years ago, the Uganda Government gave exclusive rights to a few hoteliers to build accommodation facilities in the country's three major national parks.
While the rights were aimed at boosting a dormant sector then, the move constrained the growth of the sector as visits to the parks have been constrained by limited accommodation there.
But the lifting of the exclusive rights is boosting the sector as investors take on ventures in the wildlife conservation areas.
The government had given the early proprietors a 25-kilometre exclusive zone for 30 years. That meant no other investor was allowed to erect a similar facility within a radius of 25 kilometres.
The stakeholders in the industry have welcomed Government's decision saying it is working to boost to the sector.
Mr Ben Rwabutara, the Managing Director Palace Motel Ltd in Uganda's Western town of Fort Portal says while security in the once insecure parks and mountainous area is good, inadequate accommodation remains a big challenge.
“Exclusive zones around the parks had affected the tourist arrivals since no investor was allowed to set up any infrastructure within a radius of 25 km”.He added
Rwabutura is currently setting up 20 self contained cottages on the periphery of Katwe Town council bordering Queen Elizabeth National Game Park. The cottages are like those in Kidepo National Game Park. Rwabutara are urging Government to aid the tourism sector if it is to be more competitive.
"Lack of Government input in helping people who are interested in developing the industry is a big problem.
Rwabutara said the government should help in identifying investors who are interested in constructing lodges.
Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park has a capacity of about 50 rooms and it is fully booked year-round.
State Minister for Tourism Serapio Rukundo, says the Ministry in conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have identified areas suitable to tourism investors.
"The exclusive rights given to Madhvani are no longer there.” We discussed with Madhvani about the proposed sites for development," Mr Rukundo said.
Queen Elizabeth Park in western Uganda covers 2,000 square miles, Murchison Falls, which lies in Gulu and Masindi, covers 3,840 square kilometres, while Kidepo in Karamoja is 1442 square kilometres wide. The Madhvani Group is the biggest concessionaire with a hotel in Queen Elizabeth National Park and two in Murchison Falls, among others.
Despite having unique tourist attractions, Uganda's tourism sector remains the poorest in the East African region.
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9 Baffalos and more hippos die from Anthrax in Queen Elizabeth Park
An anthrax outbreak in Queen Elizabeth National Park has killed 82 hippos and nine buffaloes since June 2010.
The chairman of the National Anthrax Task Force Dr Nicholas Kauta told journalists on Thursday that the most affected areas are those surrounding Kazinga Channel and lakes Edward and George.
As a national response, he said, the task force is implementing a multi-pronged response which includes undertaking a base line study to determine the extent of the outbreak and affected species through carrying out carcass management, marine and terrestrial patrols and sample analysis.
He warned people around the area not to graze animals in the park, report all sicknesses and deaths in wild and domestic animals to authorities and not to consume meat from sick and dead animals.
He said there will be a ring vaccination of livestock in the national park and all health centres have been put on high alert.
Anthrax is caused by bacteria (bacillus anthracis) in the atmosphere. Animals mainly herbivores get it through contaminated grass, soil and water.
Humans can acquire it through eating contaminated meat and animal products from infected animals.
The park has often experienced attacks in 1954 and in 1994 and 2004. In 2004, about 300 hippos died.
The Uganda Wild Life Authority says there is no cause of alarm that all animals in the park might die because the beasts have natural immunity to the disease.
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Uganda Tour Operators urge Government to construct Roads
The Uganda Tour Operators have asked the Government to construct roads leading to major tourist destinations to ease the transportation of tourists.
The president of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Boniface Byamukama noted that bad roads had been a major hindrance in the transportation of tourists to national parks.
“When it rains, it’s almost impossible to take any tourist to these destinations,” said Byamukama who was speaking at the official opening of the association’s new offices in Kololo, last week.
Byamukama pointed out the Kagadi-Wima road, Kihihi-Kitunguru road in Kanungu district, Kabale-Kisoro-Bwindi road and Rukungiri-Bwindi road as the worst roads that hinder the Business.
Julius Onen, the permanent secretary at the tourism and trade ministry, urged tour firms to keep the dynamism to take tourism ahead.
He said construction of the roads would soon be done by the Uganda Wildlife Road Network Company.
Onen was also happy that the Tourism sector was slowly recovering from the effects of the recent Kampala bomb attacks that had got Tourists worried for their lives.
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Uganda to inject cash in Faith Tourism
The Uganda Tourism Industry is positioning itself to aggressively market its faith-based Tourism as it looks to diversify its products.
The initiative is backed by the increased arrivals for the annual Martyrs’ Day celebrations held at the Uganda Martyrs Shrines at Namugongo.
It is believed that around 997 Tanzanians came for the national Martyrs’ Day celebrations, over 200 from Kenya, while 32 came from Arizona, USA for the single-day event as disclosed by the state minister for tourism, Serapio Rukundo.
“There is a future for faith-based Tourism. Like we used to go to Rome, Israel and Mecca, I think people will be coming here more,” said Rukundo while briefing an Austrian investment firm, A-TEC Industries, recently.
Thirty-one Christian prisoners were burnt in the holocaust at Namugongo on June 3, 1886. Every year 3 June is honored as a public holiday in Uganda. It is also marked worldwide on the church calendar in honor of the Uganda Martyrs.
But what has made this an emerging hot tourism event on the annual calendar is that outside the main celebrations, the village of Namugongo, about 12 kilometers from Kampala city, explodes in a carnivore atmosphere.
Traders and transporters using the opportunity make a kill by selling all kinds of merchandise from souvenirs, refreshments and “simply celebrating life.”
It is this that Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), wants to act as a stepping stone since the martyrs trail was fast catching on in prominence and interest.
Meanwhile, A-TEC is looking at venturing into Uganda’s tourism sector, mining and energy markets.
Bernhard Rippel, A-TEC Industries director of corporate affairs says the firm will consider building a tourism school on the model of a public-private partnership.
Rippel said A-ITEC operates similar models in Oman and Kabul where the company funds the development of the curriculum, training and implementation, while the government pays tuition for the students.
He promised that the dean of the tourism school in Oman will visit Uganda at a yet unconfirmed date to explore on what basis a tourism school will be established.
Serapio outlined Uganda’s attractive tourism diversity of 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves and home to more than half of the surviving mountain gorillas, saying the sector still has room for new investments.
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Uganda Tourism news
Buganda Totems become tool for Uganda wildlife preservation
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) has adopted Buganda’s totem system to supplement the conservation effort, an official has said.
In his speech, UWEC Executive Director Andrew Seguya said that People have forgotten this but during the old times, the Baganda knew that it was a taboo to kill your totem or even to eat your totem. And If we re-invent this, it may be a useful tool in our conservation.
Dr Seguya was briefing the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, about UWEC’s activities during the Buganda Tourism Expo 2010 yesterday. Prof Bukenya officially opened the exhibition, now an annual event.
Traditionally, a totem was an animal that represented a clan or familial group in order to distinguish them from other clans and thus prevent inbreeding or incest, and help one to monitor the kinship.
Dr Seguya said the cultural attachment to some of the animals helped in their conservation as Baganda held those animals sacred.
Last month alone, Dr Seguya said, five lions had been poisoned by unknown people in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the wild cats are now an endangered species.
UWEC exhibited a lion, a crested crane, an ostrich, pythons, fishing eagles and parrots among others.
Prof. Bukenya promised to become an ambassador for the bird’s conservation efforts. He said he was interested in the crane, which is a national bird yet it is becoming extinct
“I am interested in getting a male and a female crane,” Prof. Bukenya requested. And this was considered since Uganda crested crane is getting extinct.
Prof. Bukenya urged people to take part in cultural tourism that is one of the ways to effect development and conservation of culture.
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You must take a Safari in Uganda
Uganda is a small, land-locked country in Eastern Africa. It borders Kenya, Sudan, DR Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania and is home to one of the most diverse landscapes in all of Africa. Within Uganda's borders lie lush mountains, vast lakes and dry grasslands that teem with all sorts of wildlife, making it a wonderful safari destination.
Of recent, Uganda was not as popular a tourist destination as it neighboring countries. This means that adventurous visitors here can enjoy a type of authentic African landscape and culture that is less available in the better trodden countries such as Kenya and Tanzania.
One of Uganda's most famous and unique aspects are its abundance of Endangered Mountain wild gorillas, many of which are accessible on Ugandan safaris that take visitors into the national parks where they live. It is only because of Uganda's uniquely lush environments that gorillas can be observed up close here.
Chimpanzees come second to Uganda's unusual wildlife staying in their natural habitat. Typical Ugandan safaris also incorporate a chimp element, in addition to gorilla treks.
The River Nile is a very different setting on a safari through Murchison Falls National Park. Here, the massive river plunges down 45 meters into an amazing waterfall and wild hippos and crocodiles roam the waters.
Despite the rocky reputations of several of its neighbors, Uganda is one of the safer countries for tourists to visit in the entire Eastern African region. The nation boasts a stable government and lacks the insurgents and war that characterize many African nations, making it the perfect place to experience an Excellent African safari.
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Tanzania Tourist Board gets new Managing Director
Dr. Aloyce K. Nzuki has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourist Board
Dr. Nzuki brings years of experience in the tourism industry to the position. He previously worked with Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism as an Assistant Director in Tourism Development and Tourism Research, Training and Statistics.
He was appointed by H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Under Dr. Nzuki’s direction, the Tanzania Tourist Board will continue to promote sustainable tourism domestically and internationally.
“As Tanzania’s tourism industry, which accounts for 17.2 percent of the country’s GNP, keeps growing, we will remain focused on high quality, low impact tourism to ensure the sustainability of the tourism product. We look forward to continuing the momentum started in the United States, which remains our number-one market,” said Dr. Nzuki.
Dr. Nzuki studied Statistics at Makerere University in Uganda and completed a master’s degree in Tourism Marketing at University of Surrey in England. He holds a doctorate
Degree in Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management from Clemson University of South Carolina.
Until last month, Dr. Nzuki was an Assistant Professor of International Business Administration at the College of Applied Sciences in Salalah, Oman. He has also worked as a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s World Committee on Tourism Ethics, the body responsible for interpreting, applying and evaluating the provisions of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
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UNESCO needs 1 mln dollars to reconstruct Uganda’s Kasubi Tombs
Located on a hill in Uganda's capital Kampala, Kasubi Tombs was a former palace of the Kings of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884.
Four royal tombs lay within the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It was made of wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub.
The tombs were a tourist attraction as well as an important spiritual and political site for the Baganda, Uganda's largest ethnic group. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, but was set ablaze by an identified fire
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are seeking one million U.S. dollars for the rebuilding Uganda's world heritage site which was burnt down in March, an official said here on Friday.
Irina Bokova, UNESCO director general told delegates from 40 African countries that the organization has taken the responsibility of mobilizing funds for reconstructing Kasubi Tombs, a 126 year old burial site for ancient kings of one of Uganda's oldest kingdoms.
"We are committed to preserving culture. Culture is very important and significant for the economic growth and development of African continent," she said while closing the 12th conference of national commissions for UNESCO and director general consultations of Africa region.
Yesterday Bokova met President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, 40km south of the capital, Kampala Uganda where by Museveni called upon UNESCO to support Uganda's efforts to preserve its oldest cultural sites.
"We welcome any support towards Kasubi. However, Kasubi is more recent in 1884. There are other sites that were as ancient as 1600AD. We should develop programs to ensure that we protect this rich history as living memory," the statement quoted Museveni as saying.
According to the release, Bokova said that UNESCO has already raised 50,000 dollars from various donors for the reconstruction of the tombs and hoped to jointly work with Ugandan government to restore it.
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