TOURISM SECTOR TO FETCH $500M THIS YEAR.
Tourism, one of the most successful and fastest growing sectors in Uganda has continued to grow and is expected to earn the country over $500m (about sh905b) this year from $360m (sh651.6b) last year, tourism state minister Jovino Akaki said.
The increase to stability, good governance and the confidence the international community has in Uganda, has led to the increase in tourist numbers from 512,000 last year to about 700,000 this year, therefore expectations of the increase in earnings to $500m since it is a festival season.
Ugandan hotels have been modernized, for example lounges at Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks have been revamped, and security agencies have implemented measures that guarantee safety of tourists and other resources in the parks and wildlife reserves.
He said people should take advantage of the 50% and 25% discount on entry fees into the national parks for the locals and East Africa residents respectively, and that “Ugandans should take advantage of this offer to take time off their busy schedules,” Akaki said.