COVID-19: Tour operators want Airport re-opened

Aug 09, 2020

The continued closure without a foreseeable date of re-opening is a danger to the economy.

COVID-19|LOCKDOWN|TOURISM

KAMPALA - The tourism private sector has asked the government to consider re-opening Entebbe International Airport, saying it is the main gateway into Uganda and an enabler for recovery of all sectors in the economy.

Under their umbrella, Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), Pearl Hoareau Kakooza, the association president said there is immediate need to reopen the airport so as to mitigate the negative impact already imposed on the sector.

"The continued closure without a foreseeable date of re-opening is a danger to the economy, businesses, employees' livelihood and a big loss to the country," Kakooza said.

Kakooza advised the Ministry of Works and Transport and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) to fast track the development of passengers and facility management of the Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for re-opening.

"These SOPs should be drawn from those that have already been provided and approved by the international bodies like IATA (International Air Transport Association), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO)," she noted.

She revealed this during a workshop held at Kampala Sheraton Hotel on Tuesday in Kampala.

Yogi Biriggwa, Chairperson, Board of Airlines Association Uganda appealed to the government to at least introduce 2-3 flights per week for the aviation industry to resume with business citing that the more they delay, the more they will be pushed out of business.

"COVID 19 is here to stay; we only need to learn how to stay with it. Entebbe airport commands more than 70% of passenger arrivals into Uganda, supports businesses in the importation of raw materials, exporting of manufactured goods and agricultural products," Biriggwa said.

She added that consultations of stakeholders including the tourism sector on the SOPs were to be fast-tracked with the aim of re-opening the airport in September.

(L-R) Richard Kawere, Chief Executive Officer Uganda Tourism Association, Pearl Hoareau Kakooza and Yogi Biriggwa interacting a press conference.

Everest Kayondo, Chairman Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) revealed that regional comparison among the East African Community (EAC) countries indicates that Kenya re-opened, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on August1, Tanzania on 15 June and Rwanda in July.

Adding that other countries either re-opened their airports or gave indicative dates when they ought to re-open their aviation space.

"The business communities in those countries can ably plan their imports, exports, and travels, even though the airports are partially open or yet to open, this is impossible on the side of Uganda since no clear road map to the opening of the airport has been laid out," he said.

The Chairperson Uganda Association of Travel Agents, Richard Mujjuzi advised the government to set an interim tentative date for the reopening of the airport to enable travelers, also defer their bookings to Uganda.

COVID 19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the aviation industry due to travel restrictions and slumps in demand among travelers.

The latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that the airline industry has so far lost $419 billion dollars of revenue globally due to the reduced number of passengers and has estimated that full pre-COVID-19 recovery shall happen in 2024.

Uganda has seen all its tourism revenue of $1.6 billion eroded and more than 400,000 jobs lost in this period of closure and lockdown.

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