Uganda Tourism Vibrant Despite Bomb Blasts
The Uganda Tourists and tour operators earlier have been weary of the situation and its impact on the tourism sector. However, players in the field say apart from inquiries, there are no tourists canceling their booking and safaris that characterize the season will go as planned.
Hundreds of tourists book vocations in Uganda during this period to visit parks and especially to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Concerns whether they would cancel their trips or change their itinerary have been quelled by further bookings, according the Mr Moses Mapesa, the executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, a body that is charged with keeping the national parks, among other tourism attractions
Assuring Tourists, Mr Mapesa said he has not received any cancellation, something that reassures the sector that the bombs scare will not seriously affect the business. On Wednesday morning, tour operators held a meeting at the Uganda Tourism Board offices in Kampala at the meeting, they resolved on safety measures of tourists in the country and those about to arrive.
Though the primary aim of the meeting the upcoming World Travel Market (WTM) fair in London due in November, tour operators addressed matters regarding the bombs scare because they could be damaging to their business.
Miss Najjuka, the manager of Katona tours and travel said that though some tourists who booked with her company are concerned and have been inquiring whether it is safe to visit the country, she is glad that none of them has cancelled and have sent 6 groups of Tourists to National parks this week. Three Tourists are hiking Rwenzori, One couple is on 21 days Vacation to celebrate their marriage , a group of 5 has gone for a grand safari and the rest of the groups are tracking gorillas.
Mr Baluku, a secretary general of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) said,, "No park has been far closed, so as long as visitors observe safety precautions, the situation is very normal."
Uganda Tourism Board's Edwin Muzahura added, "I have met the private sector in tourism and we have agreed on updating our clients on the situation back home." He said providing factual updates on the website, twitter and face book helps tourists understand the situation as it is, and not to scare them away.
"These scares happen anywhere and tourists cannot stop to come because two bombs are detonated in some parts of Kampala. For example, South Africa was on high alert before and during the World Cup, but millions of football fans watched the games peacefully. The situation in Kampala is very controllable and every other places tourists visit, are more security conscious than possibly they have been."
Mr Mapesa adds, "People out there understand that there are security concerns in America, Europe, Asia and everywhere." He said there are reasonable security measures in place to protect the tourists from harm, adding, UWA has enough security on its own in all national parks.
"The safaris are done in the total guidance of our staff. We tell our visitors to travel during the day and to be inside by 7p.m.," he says, adding, "And even when a tourist asked for a self guided tour, we advise them on routes and give them a map."
Mr Muzahura told Saturday Monitor, the situation is under control and that is why the government has not issued any travel advisories. Mr Baluku adds, the coming months are high season for safaris and if the government serves advisory notices, it would heavily impact on the tourism industry.
Compiled by
Jackie
Mount Rwenzori peak Margherita blocked
The remaining ice cap on Mountain Rwenzori covering the second highest peak in Africa, Margherita,, has split creating a crevasse of 6 meters, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Rwenzori has about six peaks but Margherita is its highest and most popular the world over. It provides a unique experience to mountain climbers.
The peak was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO and it was recently gazetted as a Ramsar site requiring protection.
Moses Mapesa the Uganda Wild life Authority boss said access to the peak has since been blocked due to global warming. It is caused by gases such as carbon-dioxide from industrial processes, which trap the heat escaping from the earth surface.
Mapesa urged people to minimize activities that affect the eco-system around the mountain, lest more disasters occur.
According to researchers, the ice cap covered six square kilometers 50 years ago. It is now less than a square kilometer.
John Hunwick, the director of Rwenzori Trekking Services, said the crevasse appeared in the glaciers between April 18 and 20.
He added that the glaciers have been melting rapidly during the last four years, saying the country is losing a tourism treasure because it is unique to have ice on the equator.
The senior warden in charge of Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Nelson Guma, said the crack has occurred 5,000 meters above sea level.
He described it as a phenomenon beyond human control.
“This has posed a management challenge to us, but we have to adapt to this challenge,” added Guma.
UWA has dispatched a team to the mountain to ascertain the extent of damage on the route to Margherita, according to Guma. He also said options of re-routing to the peak would be considered.
Guma disclosed that other cracks had been reported on the side of the mountain in Bundibugyo district, adding that there was a possibility of faulting taking place along the mountain ranges.
The Kasese district environment officer, Augustine Koli, attributed the cracks to physical withering of rocks and glaciers.
The melting of the glaciers has also increased water flow into River Semliki, the natural boundary between Uganda and the DR Congo.
The increased water volumes have enhanced the erosive power of River Semliki, causing shifting of the river towards the over degraded banks in Rwebisengo.
Compiled by
Jackie