Uganda’s tourism receipts are anticipated to recuperate to the pre-Covid ranges by the tip of the yr after the sector recorded an 83.4 % rebound supported by vacationer arrivals.
In keeping with the brand new tourism pattern and statistics report 2024, launched Tuesday, the nation’s worldwide vacationer receipts grew by 48.5 % to succeed in $1.025 billion final yr, representing 83.4 % of the $1.6 billion recorded in 2019.
The authorities attribute the expansion in each numbers and income to arrivals from Africa and a few key abroad markets together with the UK, United States of America and India.
Within the final three years, Uganda has been aggressively advertising its locations in southern and western Africa.
The nationwide service, Uganda Airways, has in the identical interval additionally elevated its African community with new routes.
Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan retained the primary, second and third positions respectively and proceed to be Uganda’s largest African supply markets, collectively accounting for 80 % of all arrivals in Africa in 2023.
“By means of the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, in collaboration with its companies and the non-public sector, we now have witnessed a restoration of the trade. Worldwide arrivals have elevated to a formidable 82.6 % of pre-pandemic ranges,” stated Doreen Katusiime, the Tourism Everlasting Secretary.
The report additionally notes that home tourism has elevated by 25.3 % in 2023 with extra Ugandans now visiting nationwide parks and different leisure centres.
Tourism is one among Uganda’s key sectors contributing about 4.7 % to the nation’s GDP.
Earlier than the Covid-19 pandemic disruptions and its ensuing lockdowns that noticed the sector come to a standstill, it was the nation’s greatest overseas alternate earner raking in about $1.6 billion yearly.
The sector employs greater than 620,000 individuals immediately or not directly, in keeping with official statistics.
The brand new report notes that if the present development pattern continues, direct tourism revenues might surpass 2019 ranges by the tip of the yr 2024.
Trade gamers, nevertheless, contend that the expansion may very well be sooner if the federal government elevated its funding to the sector.
Earlier final yr, the federal government triggered a public uproar after it introduced it was greater than halving the tourism funds from Ush194.6 billion ($52 million) within the earlier monetary yr to solely Ush89.29 billion ($24 million) for 2023/2024.
Authorities technocrats and personal sector gamers all agree that extra funding is required for actions like upgrading, sustaining and redeveloping tourism websites, participation in worldwide conferences and exhibitions, reviewing and implementing the nationwide tourism advertising technique, and growing new websites and merchandise.
World over, the tourism sector is choosing up in direction of the pre-pandemic ranges with Asia and Africa main the pack, in keeping with the World Tourism Organisation.
Worldwide tourism receipts reached $1.4 trillion in 2023 primarily based on preliminary estimates, which is about 93 % of the 1.5 trillion earned by locations in 2019.
Uganda’s tourism receipts are anticipated to recuperate to the pre-Covid ranges by the tip of the yr after the sector recorded an 83.4 % rebound supported by vacationer arrivals.
In keeping with the brand new tourism pattern and statistics report 2024, launched Tuesday, the nation’s worldwide vacationer receipts grew by 48.5 % to succeed in $1.025 billion final yr, representing 83.4 % of the $1.6 billion recorded in 2019.
The authorities attribute the expansion in each numbers and income to arrivals from Africa and a few key abroad markets together with the UK, United States of America and India.
Within the final three years, Uganda has been aggressively advertising its locations in southern and western Africa.
The nationwide service, Uganda Airways, has in the identical interval additionally elevated its African community with new routes.
Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan retained the primary, second and third positions respectively and proceed to be Uganda’s largest African supply markets, collectively accounting for 80 % of all arrivals in Africa in 2023.
“By means of the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, in collaboration with its companies and the non-public sector, we now have witnessed a restoration of the trade. Worldwide arrivals have elevated to a formidable 82.6 % of pre-pandemic ranges,” stated Doreen Katusiime, the Tourism Everlasting Secretary.
The report additionally notes that home tourism has elevated by 25.3 % in 2023 with extra Ugandans now visiting nationwide parks and different leisure centres.
Tourism is one among Uganda’s key sectors contributing about 4.7 % to the nation’s GDP.
Earlier than the Covid-19 pandemic disruptions and its ensuing lockdowns that noticed the sector come to a standstill, it was the nation’s greatest overseas alternate earner raking in about $1.6 billion yearly.
The sector employs greater than 620,000 individuals immediately or not directly, in keeping with official statistics.
The brand new report notes that if the present development pattern continues, direct tourism revenues might surpass 2019 ranges by the tip of the yr 2024.
Trade gamers, nevertheless, contend that the expansion may very well be sooner if the federal government elevated its funding to the sector.
Earlier final yr, the federal government triggered a public uproar after it introduced it was greater than halving the tourism funds from Ush194.6 billion ($52 million) within the earlier monetary yr to solely Ush89.29 billion ($24 million) for 2023/2024.
Authorities technocrats and personal sector gamers all agree that extra funding is required for actions like upgrading, sustaining and redeveloping tourism websites, participation in worldwide conferences and exhibitions, reviewing and implementing the nationwide tourism advertising technique, and growing new websites and merchandise.
World over, the tourism sector is choosing up in direction of the pre-pandemic ranges with Asia and Africa main the pack, in keeping with the World Tourism Organisation.
Worldwide tourism receipts reached $1.4 trillion in 2023 primarily based on preliminary estimates, which is about 93 % of the 1.5 trillion earned by locations in 2019.
