Tourism to fetch $500m

Dec 21, 2005

THE tourism sector 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 has said.

By Mary Karugaba

THE tourism sector 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 has said.

Akaki said the number of tourists has continued to rise from 512,000 last year to about 700,000 this year.

“Tourism has been one of the most successful and fastest growing sectors. We expect the earnings to increase to $500m because it is a festival season,” he said.

Akaki attributed the increase to stability, good governance and the confidence the international community has in Uganda.

Speaking from Parliament on Tuesday, he said in the recent past, the Uganda Wildlife Authority and security agencies had implemented measures that guarantee safety of tourists and other resources in the national parks and wildlife reserves.

“Our hotels have been improved, lounges at Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth national parks have also been revamped to enable visitors tour all the areas in the parks,” Akaki said.

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.

“Ugandans should take advantage of this offer to take time off their busy schedules,” Akaki said.

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