Uganda’s tourism trade is experiencing a exceptional resurgence, with worldwide vacationer arrivals skyrocketing by 56% in 2023, surpassing 1.2 million guests and producing over USD 1 billion in income, in response to the 2023 tourism trade efficiency report.
Denis Ojok, a Senior Statistician on the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, highlighted the numerous development, noting a considerable enhance from roughly 800,000 worldwide vacationer arrivals in 2022 to 1 million in 2023.
“This 56% enhance translated into over 1 billion USD in income, up from about 700 billion shillings in 2022,” Ojok said.
Nevertheless, regardless of this spectacular development, Tourism Minister Tom Butime acknowledged that the sector has but to totally rebound to pre-COVID ranges.
He cited challenges similar to infrastructure deficiencies, emphasizing the necessity to prioritize tourism-related highway tasks within the present monetary yr.
“Whereas Uganda’s key vacationer markets stay in Africa, there’s a strategic shift in direction of rising markets like Nepal and Switzerland,” the report highlighted.
To additional bolster the sector, the Ministry of Tourism plans to embark on aggressive advertising and marketing campaigns, expedite product growth, and supply assist by means of coaching to reinforce world competitiveness.