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The African country is reaping the rewards of a 10-year development plan. Ephraim Kamuntu, its minister of tourism, tells Katherine Lawrey about the progress to date
Winston Churchill called Uganda “paradise on earth” when he visited in 1908. And now the Uganda ministry of tourism is working hard to ensure we can all share in his vision.
A 10-year development plan undertaken by the Ugandan government is starting to pay dividends, minister of tourism Ephraim Kamuntu told me at WTM London last week.
However, he said the destination was still a victim of negative perceptions, as the recent media coverage of the Ebola outbreak showed.
“Africa is still the ‘dark continent’,” he said. “Some took the Ebola travel advisory as if [it applied] for the whole continent. It’s a perception that we must change with information and technology.”
As a result of the 10-year plan, launched in 2012-13 and managed by the UN World Tourism Organisation and United Nations Development Programme, representation agencies have been established in the UK, Germany and the US.
Kamuntu said the Ugandan government was also investing in internal infrastructure: “Roads to tourist sites are being Tarmacked; electricity is being extended and internet services too – this is all happening now.”
Project lead Roger Goodacre added: “There used to be no marketing at all but that is changing and Uganda’s tourism will grow, but it needs investment, like any industry.”
Last year the country welcomed 1.5 million tourists and aims to increase that number to 4 million by 2020. Tourism contributes 10% of Uganda’s GDP.
Kamuntu explained: “Tourism must be a driving force to achieve the government’s vision of becoming a middle income country.”
With 58% of the world’s gorilla population living in the mountains of Uganda, they remain a compelling draw for tourists. However, Kamuntu was keen to highlight additional reasons to visit the country.
“Uganda is the only country that has the big five and mountain gorillas. It has the greatest variety of bird species in Africa, and 12 national parks. We have mountains, savannah, tropical forest and freshwater lakes. And if you want
to know the source of the Nile, come to Uganda. Climate is also a big selling point.
With an average of 25 degrees, it’s not so hot. We never use air conditioning.”
