President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that Uganda’s tourism sector remains strong despite challenges, including the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a televised address on Thursday night ahead of the 38th Liberation Day of the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M), Prime Minister Museveni said tourism receipts had increased by 9 per cent from US$978.35 million in the 2021/22 financial year. I reported something noteworthy. 1,066.41 million in financial year 2022/23.
The President attributed this growth to rising traveler confidence as the world recovers from the global shock of COVID-19, the allure of Uganda's natural endowments, and the country's growing demand for travel across the country. He said it was thanks to peace and security.
Mr Museveni outlined the government's efforts to further increase tourism receipts, aiming to reach US$5 billion annually by 2028. He stressed that the value of the global tourism and travel industry is USD 9.5 trillion.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), foreign tourists who visited Uganda spent over Sh4.6 trillion on tourism services in 2019, while domestic tourists spent about Sh3 trillion. This total amount is equivalent to approximately 2 billion US dollars, representing his 0.02% of the global industry value. The number of international tourists in 2021 was approximately 965 million, compared to 1.5 million in Uganda in 2019.
Museveni highlighted the potential for Uganda's tourism revenue share in global trade to increase significantly, with a five-fold increase to 0.1% potentially generating 23 trillion lice (or US$6.2 billion annually). he suggested.
The president also addressed the misinformation being spread by “European and American politicians” regarding security concerns and stereotypes about Uganda. He called for the active dissemination of correct information through diplomatic channels and online platforms to convey an accurate image of the country.
Additionally, Mr. Museveni said that Uganda will be a It proposed measures to further increase tourism revenue. Conferences and Events (MICE). He also recommended training multilingual tour guides, including proficiency in Swahili and Chinese, and greater use of destination marketing agents, among other strategies.
