Government to create 4 shortcuts into the country for tourists

The directive to renovate the airstrips came from President Museveni to the Minister of Works and Transport and the Tourism Ministry during a cabinet meeting.

The Minister for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butiime, revealed the agenda while officiating the seventh edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo-POATE in Munyonyo, Kampala.

Planned renovation

The targeted airstrips are Kasese, Kidepo Pakuba, and Kisoro which will be tarmacked and coded for tourists with private jets to access tourism sites around the airstrips.

Butiime said the airstrips will have immigration posts to make it easy for tourists from Dubai or Frankfurt to access these destinations. He called this move a game-changer for the tourism sector.

He urged the different tourism sector players, especially in the hotel sector, to maintain the set East African standards for their services and facilities if they hope to revert to pre-Covid growth rates.

Boosted tourism budget

This directive comes at a time when the budget has been revised to Shs214 billion from Shs89.2 billion for the financial year 2023/2024. The chairperson of the Uganda Tourism Board David Migereko, applauded the system of issuing a single tourist visa among all East African counties, saying it has transformed the industry in the region.

According to Lilly Ajarova, the CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, post-pandemic visits have been dominated by African tourists at 70 per cent.