[UAH] Tourism players want government to improve Uganda’s road network - National - monitor.co.ug
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Tourism players want government to improve Uganda's road network - National - monitor.co.ug
Tourism players have asked the government to allocated enough money in the forthcoming budget to improve roads that link major tourism sites in order to spur the sector in the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Tourism Forum in Kampala on Saturday, the Chairman Association of Uganda Tour Operators Mr Boniface Byamukama said the Kihihi-Buhoma-Katunguru, Kisoro-Rubuguri-Nkolongo roads in South Western Uganda and Wobulenzi-Jinja should be improved to facilitate easy movement of tourists to tourism destinations.
He also urged the government to increase the budget for tourism sector in the next financial year to enable them market Uganda as a top tourism destination on the African continent.
"We are looking towards government increasing funding allocated to the tourism sector to enable Uganda to compete favourably with its neighbours. We have a unique product which needs to be marketed," Mr Byamukama said.
Allocation to the tourism ministry to support marketing activities has stagnated at $25,580, compared to $23 million spent by Kenya over the same financial year. Tanzania's allocation stands at $10 million while Rwanda's tourism budget is $5 million.
Mr Herbert Byaruhanga, the President of Uganda Tourism Association said government should also be committed to funding capacity building, marketing and product identification and development in the tourism sector.
Parliament's Budget Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry also recently agreed on the need to increase the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities budget to at least 2 per cent from the current 0.13 per cent.
According to the budget framework paper, the budget for Uganda Tourism Board, a body charged with the responsibility of marketing the country as the best tourism destination is expected to reduce from Shs1.8 billion in 2012/2013 to Shs1.4 billion in the 2013/14 financial year.
The Board has a funding gap of about Shs17 billion from the last financial year.
Players, however, welcomed the tourism levy which was recently proposed by government, saying it will enable them supplement the meager resources from government to support tourism activities.
Government recently said it intends to operationalise the Tourism Development Levy (TDL) next financial year to act as an alternative funding for the tourism sector.
The tax, which will be levied on major areas including hotels, food, gym among other tourist service providers, is expected to generate at least $9m (about Shs22b) annually, according to the Tourism Ministry.
The money from the tax will go to the Tourism Development Fund.
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