Of clean and murky tourism

The crowded Phuket Island in Thailand. PHOTO BY NAFHA MAANI.

What you need to know:

Having been a tourist all my life, I can certify that tourism in Uganda is one of the most unsoiled I have seen.

There are certain countries in the world that you wish to visit again and again, however, sometimes things happen that make you think twice before you invest in another trip. For me one such country is Thailand. I loved it since my first visit almost three decades ago.

I travelled there twice in a space of two years before heading to visit other parts of the world. So when we planned to go back to Thailand in 2012, I was preparing myself to fall in love all over again with my favourite country. Alas, that did not happen!

Opportunists
Besides the fact that Bangkok had become very populated and extremely polluted, at every corner was someone waiting to take advantage of you. For example, the woman on the metro bridge who convinces tourists that there is a one day in the year huge sale in a local shop, and that you are lucky today is that day!

She then sends you with a designated Tuk Tuk (local taxi) to a jewellery shop or another shop, of course, with no real sale, and on your way out the same taxi that charged you say one dollar wants 10 to take you back! Such stories, of course take many shapes and forms and unless you are a trained tourist, chances are that your day is ruined.

So we were advised to head to the island of Phuket, one of the most visited islands in Thailand. Maybe it was the time of the year that was bad (around Christmas) because the island was bursting with tourists, especially from Europe, visitors who were escaping the harsh European winter and spending the long season’s holidays under the sun.

Here too, one could not walk on the streets without being pushed in a shop or offered a menu of some sort. The beaches were cluttered with long chairs and umbrellas, kiosks and people cooking local food, littering and unpleasant odors were very common, not a very good experience.

A few days ago, I read that the Thai government had finally decided to clean up Phuket, clear the beaches and crack down on taxi mafias that were taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists ( we were forewarned so we did not fall victim) . It took an army general to execute this plan, and it was about time.

This whole saga makes me wonder, what are we missing here in Uganda? With all the amazing attractions we have, why are we not attracting more tourists? We have a very pure tourism industry here, no back door deals, no cheating, genuine promises and above all a very gifted nature. Even the traders who try and convince you to enter their shop in tourist areas, do so in a gentle manner. I’m sure we can do more, much more. Over to you tourism authorities!

Editorial @ug.nationmedia.com