Govt set to review national park deals
Sep 28, 2005
THE Government has started reviewing some of the concession agreements it entered with investors to establish tourism facilities in major national parks.<br> This follows growing inadequacy of hotel and other facilities in the parks as the number of tourists double yearly.
By Charles Opolot and Frank Mugabi
THE Government has started reviewing some of the concession agreements it entered with investors to establish tourism facilities in major national parks.
This follows growing inadequacy of hotel and other facilities in the parks as the number of tourists double yearly.
The tourism state minister Jovina Akaki said on Friday that some of the agreements were a “disadvantage†to the tourism sector, particularly concessions covering the “exclusion zones†that bar an investor from establishing a comparable structure or facility like a hotel within a radius of 25 miles from the existing one.
Akaki was officiating at “positive reporting to promote tourism†workshop organised by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for journalists at Paraa in Murchison Falls National Park.
Twenty-five journalists from different media houses across attended.
Akaki said the agreements that were meant to expire after 13 years were also dissuading a number of investors who have expressed interest in establishing more tourist facilities in the parks.
“The UWA board is working in consultation with the Solicitor General to study and advice Cabinet on how we can go about the whole process,†Akaki said.
He said some of the agreements were “extremely†unfair to the country “but by then, it was the only reachable option to revamp the tourism industry after several years of civil strife and a dented world repute that scared away tourists and investors.â€
The long serving minister in the tourism sector said the situation was bad during that time.
“The perception of insecurity in the country had greatly affected the tourism industry but now things have changed and this cannot continue anymore,†Akaki said.
He said over $50m (about sh97b) had been spent under the Protected Areas for Sustainable Use (PAMSU) project, now in its second phase, to develop and secure the parks from insurgents and poachers.
The money was partially used to train 1,300 rangers in paramilitary skills, build capacity of staff, demarcation of parks and infrastructure development.
UWA executive director, Moses Mapesa declared that all conservation areas in the country were safe for local and international tourists.
He said the roads had been rehabilitated and security is provided in collaboration with other national security organs including the UPDF and Internal Security Organisation.
Mapesa said tourism was one of the most fragile industries and advised embassies to consult other stakeholders before issuing negative advisories.
He said some of the advisories were unjustifiable and tourists that defied them spoke about their safe and enjoyable trips to the Uganda.
Akaki said the Government was doing all it can to rebuild world image to attract more tourists and investors.
He said over $1m (about sh2b) would be spent over the next six months running a tourist attracting campaign on the Cable News Network (CNN) television station.
The campaign “Uganda; The gift of nature†shall run on the Saturday “Inside Africa†a CNN programme.
THE Government has started reviewing some of the concession agreements it entered with investors to establish tourism facilities in major national parks.
This follows growing inadequacy of hotel and other facilities in the parks as the number of tourists double yearly.
The tourism state minister Jovina Akaki said on Friday that some of the agreements were a “disadvantage†to the tourism sector, particularly concessions covering the “exclusion zones†that bar an investor from establishing a comparable structure or facility like a hotel within a radius of 25 miles from the existing one.
Akaki was officiating at “positive reporting to promote tourism†workshop organised by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for journalists at Paraa in Murchison Falls National Park.
Twenty-five journalists from different media houses across attended.
Akaki said the agreements that were meant to expire after 13 years were also dissuading a number of investors who have expressed interest in establishing more tourist facilities in the parks.
“The UWA board is working in consultation with the Solicitor General to study and advice Cabinet on how we can go about the whole process,†Akaki said.
He said some of the agreements were “extremely†unfair to the country “but by then, it was the only reachable option to revamp the tourism industry after several years of civil strife and a dented world repute that scared away tourists and investors.â€
The long serving minister in the tourism sector said the situation was bad during that time.
“The perception of insecurity in the country had greatly affected the tourism industry but now things have changed and this cannot continue anymore,†Akaki said.
He said over $50m (about sh97b) had been spent under the Protected Areas for Sustainable Use (PAMSU) project, now in its second phase, to develop and secure the parks from insurgents and poachers.
The money was partially used to train 1,300 rangers in paramilitary skills, build capacity of staff, demarcation of parks and infrastructure development.
UWA executive director, Moses Mapesa declared that all conservation areas in the country were safe for local and international tourists.
He said the roads had been rehabilitated and security is provided in collaboration with other national security organs including the UPDF and Internal Security Organisation.
Mapesa said tourism was one of the most fragile industries and advised embassies to consult other stakeholders before issuing negative advisories.
He said some of the advisories were unjustifiable and tourists that defied them spoke about their safe and enjoyable trips to the Uganda.
Akaki said the Government was doing all it can to rebuild world image to attract more tourists and investors.
He said over $1m (about sh2b) would be spent over the next six months running a tourist attracting campaign on the Cable News Network (CNN) television station.
The campaign “Uganda; The gift of nature†shall run on the Saturday “Inside Africa†a CNN programme.