Just like UTB ended 2022 in style with Uganda Explore Elgon campaign, so is the new style of entering 2023 with explore west campaign. Uganda’s tourism ministry has set April 12-16, 2023 as dates for ‘explore west’ campaign that will see tourists traverse different areas in the Western part of Uganda as they boost growth of domestic tourism.
On march 28, the state minister martin mugarra Bahinduka announced while at Sheraton Hotel. The revelation of exploring west is to showcase its vast tourism through a number of domestic tourists, tourism stake holders and media house.
He added saying that covid-19 brought in restrictions linked to international travel taught “us a lesson about promoting domestic tourism” hence domestic tourism is a sustainability aspect of the sector.
During Explore west campaign, the participants will cover places like the Equator, Igonog Museum, Eclipse Monument in Biharwe, Mugaba Palace, Kyambura Tea Growers Estate, Lake Nkugute, Lake Mburo National Park, Mweya Peninsula in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Katwe Salt Lake, Amabeere ga Nyinamwiru, Tooro Cultural Heritage and more.
Tourism was the leading foreign exchange earner bringing in US$1.6 billion, contributing about 8% to GDP and over 500,000 jobs, according to the World Travel Tourism Council 2020 report that’s during pre-covid 19.
International tourists are the major contributors to the sector revenue. Domestic tourism campaigns are instrumental in complementing growth of the sector going forward. Mugarra confirmed that ‘Explore North’ campaign will be held sometime in June this year.
