Opportunities in Tourism
Tourism is a fast-growing sector supported by the fact that Uganda is ranked as a top tourist destination and one of only three countries with about 50% of the world’s known population of endangered mountain gorillas. (Source: Lonely planet 2012 and CNN 2016, which ranked Uganda among the top 16 holiday destinations in the world)
Game viewing is the most popular tourist activity in the country’s national parks. This is because the country has a variety of game, including the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, white rhinoceros, and elephant and it is home to 11% of the world’s bird species (a total of 1,060 bird species). It is also blessed with unspoiled scenic beauty including forests, hills and mountains, rivers and lakes.
Opportunities in tourism range from :-
- Constructing high quality accommodation facilities,
- Operating tour and travel circuits (bicycle tours, air balloon travel, marine activities on Lake Victoria and river rafting on the Nile River)
- Development of specialised eco and community tourism facilities and faith-based tourism such as pilgrimages to the Namugongo-Uganda martyrs, Mahatma Gandhi statue, and Bishop Hannington landing site on the Nile.
Steadily growing tourist numbers are estimated to have reached 1.5 million per year, contributing 7.7% to GDP.
Featured Investment Projects
AMOUNT: US$3,000,000
LOCATION: 10 NATIONAL PARKS
The project will construct 100 cottages for tourist accommodation. The project seeks to address bed shortage in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori, Semuliki, Kibale, Elgon, Murchison falls, Kidepo & Lake Mburo.
In the high tourism season, there’s a 50% shortage of beds in the national parks.
AMOUNT: US$150 Million
LOCATION: SOURCE OF THE NILE, JINJA
The project is meant to build infrastructure around the source of the Nile such as public infrastructure (beautified), Cultural centres, Entertainment facilities, Hotel and recreation, Tourism water activities , Zip lines, Information Centre, Monuments and floating restaurants, alongside an improved golf already in existence for socio- economic benefits.
Target market are tourists from all over the world, so the investments are to be first class.
AMOUNT: US$ 1 - 55 MILLION
LOCATION: COUNTRYWIDE
There are numerous investments which can be undertaken in different national parks and en route to national parks.
These opportunities include Luxury hotels, tented camps and cottages; House Boats, Cruise Launches on the Nile and Sport fishing on the Albert, Edward and George; Walking Safaris in the wilderness areas and the volcanic craters; Canopy Walkways in tropical forests and sky trams;