Tourism minister asks Ugandans to embrace domestic tourism and travel drive
The minister of state for Tourism Mr. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka [left] takes a rest during a hike to Maro Agro-Tourism site at Osukuru hills in Tororo District. Photo/Joseph Omollo
What you need to know:
- The minister said the tourism sector can only be sustained if the local population embraces it rather than relying on foreign tourists.
The State Minister for Tourism has asked Ugandans to embrace domestic tourism and travel drive as a key driver in the recovery of the sector especially post Covid-19.
Mr Martin Bahinduka Mugarra made his call over the weekend during his spot visit to Maro Agro-Tourism Centre in Osukuru Town Council in Tororo District where he also led a hike to Osukuru hills.
He said the campaign is pivotal for building resilience to the International tourism shocks but also a major driver of word of mouth marketing since most tourists believe in travel recommendations from friends and family members.
He noted that the number of tourists visiting the country’s tourist sites has for the last two years increased drastically and he attributed it to domestic travels.
He reiterated the importance of domestic tourism in sustaining the Country’s [Uganda’s] tourism sector, which he said is one of the country’s largest foreign income earners.
The minister said the tourism sector can only be sustained if the local population embraces it rather than relying on foreign tourists.
"Some of these places you studied about them in schools but unfortunately you have not had a chance of visiting them physically. So it’s the right time that you need to visit them to authenticate what you learnt," said the minister.
Mr Bahinduka applauded the individuals who have partnered to beautify and manage Osukuru hills and said that as government, they will see a way of improving the accessibility to the tourism site as part of the effort to uncover dormant but potential tourism sites.
Meanwhile, the Tororo Municipality Member of Parliament Mr. Yeri Apollo Ofwono who is a key partner in managing and beautifying the tourist site appealed to the government to see a way in which local tourism promoter’s can be supported especially in infrastructural development.
He said he supported the development and protection of the hills because of the unique features they have compared to others.
He added that the hills have unique tree species, birds, and caves.
