ARUA

A section of tourism officers in West Nile have been urged to popularise the tourism prospects in the region.

The call by the West Nile Development Association (WENDA) executive director Moses Akuma Odims was made during the closure of a five-day training of handicrafters, tour guides and tour operators by GIZ in partnership with Celes International in Arua City this week.

Akuma said: “As the tourists flock the region, they need tour guides, tour operators and also need to buy handicrafts as they tour the places".

A total of 35 tourism officers and tour guides from the region's districts participated in the training.

He also told the trainees that during the West Nile centenary celebrations in 2014 at Arua Hill Boma grounds, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched the West Nile Tourism Information Centre located in Pakwach district.

The participants also received certificates of attendance and binoculars to facilitate their field activities.

Meanwhile, Roseline Vusia, the deputy head of programme, RISE project at GIZ, said tourism is one of the highest foreign income earners with its potential to provide lucrative jobs to the local population.

The project majorly targets the youth who have been selected to be trained so that they reap from the tourism sector.

Stella Akello, 38 year old girl from Pakwach making bread basket out of papyrus during one training organised by GIZ under RISE project for the youth at heritage courts hotel in Arua city on Friday, 29th September, 2023 (Photo by Bosco King)

Madi Okollo district tourism officer Night Zahara said she used to work alone, but she has learnt to work with site owners of the tourism sites who are more familiar with their places than her.

Zahara said she plans to buy tents to be used by the tourists as shelters in the major tourist sites of Madi Okollo.