Search for Miss Tourism 2015 is on

By Titus Kakembo                                                                                                                                

The search is on for Miss Tourism 2015 and different regions are expected to contest.

Minister of Tourism Maria Mutagamba has said requests have been made by member states to upgrade it into an entire East African Community (EAC) contest.

“We are still weighing the advantages and disadvantages,” she told guests at Fairway Hotel recently.

“But so far so good. Our ambassadors are doing a great job. They have made Uganda visible on the international occasions in Malaysia. The youths are picking interest in tourism. Their participation in the quiz patronizing beaches and application to contest are testimony.”

The minister urged parents to educate their children and also allow them to choose what they want to do.

“You may want your child to go for medicine, law or an accounts course but he or she chooses tourism, sports or modeling. Support them and help them excel. With the world a click away, you never know what is in store. Our model Aamito and actress [Lupita] Nyongo in Kenya did it.

“The beauty ambassadors from every part of Uganda are expected to be articulate, confident, curious and informed to the dot,” said Mutagamba.
 

Guests being entertained during the launch of the Miss Tourism 2015 search. (Photo credit: Titus Kakembo)

The launch was at Fairway Hotel in Kampala. (Photo credit: Titus Kakembo)

The Uganda Tourist Board (UTB) chief executive officer Steven Asimwe said tourism remains the country’s biggest income earner, adding that there is a lot to benefit and exploit from the booming tourism industry.

“The youth could become tour guides, set up tour companies or publish literature about individual destinations,” he said.

“The tourist is challenging us to enable them spend more than $2000 [about sh5.8m] or more while here. How do you make them stay longer, spend more and enjoy their stay?”

The outgoing Miss Tourism Patricia Babirye  Ntale praised the crown for exposing her to a whole new world of adventure.

“I scaled Mount Rwenzori, went to all the national parks and know all our attractions like the back of my hand,” said the beauty queen.

She added: “The ambassadors from different parts of the country are my new family. We network and support each other as a family. We were in Mbale to promote the new Imbalu (circumcision) product.”

The occasion was graced by energetic traditional dances from Ankole, Buganda and Acholi as tips for participants were counted on fingers – one ought to be more than five feet tall, eloquent in spoken English, above 18 years of age but below 35, a Ugandan by nationality, crazy about people and places.