There is need to be more aggressive in marketing tourism products and to do a lot of research so that before going into the market, one knows how, what and why they are selling and to whom.
At Hotel Africana Kampala, the elections of Association of Women in Tourism Trade (AUWOTT) took place on April 12th bringing on board strong women ready to shape tourism in shape.
The elected chairperson of AUWOTT is Jacqueline Kemirembe and the vice president is Dorothy Tukamushaba Okoboi.
The new general secretary is Aisha Nabwanika and Gill Kyatuhaire as the treasurer, and Yogi Mamwo Birigwa, senior board advisor.
As many times the workers strategize on how to bring people to consume their services, when one goes job hunting are always shown around the work place so is Tourism industry. You have the skills you know how what you are selling, and you can help someone to take it up.
“In Tourism one is selling five if not more senses, smell, touch, sight, taste and hearing” the chief Executive of Private Officer Foundation Uganda (PSFU) Asiimwe Stephen says.
Asiimwe said that if it is a tour and travel company and one is selling Murchison falls as a tour destination, the person selling the idea must know how much about this place to convince someone to actually go there.
Recent as the elected new leaders of Association of Women in Tourism Trade have tackled topics on maximizing the potential of Uganda as one of the most interesting tourism destinations.
At the election evening meeting, Asiimwe who was the guest of Honor clarified benefits of knowing what one sells with firsthand experience.
Once on his sojourns, he made a pit stop to have a meal at a place which led him to a tour and travel company and he went ahead just to see what business and what services they offered. When he asked about the destination mentioned., the person that was supposed to entice him to go to the place neither had information about the place nor had he visited the place they were selling.
Asiimwe said that for the simple reason that you are selling an experience, if you have the most beautiful country in the world, with 25 percent covered with water, beautiful mountains, and people, the best food, great weather and environment, you do not need three years to master that. This is because any other business might need to kick off and start realizing profits.
Optimizing potentials in Tourism.
“To optimize Uganda’s potential in Tourism, the government must, in the planning stage, involve key players for example they ought to involve the private sector businesses when drafting policies and other things that promote tourism so that everyone is on the same page.” The managing Director and founder of Bird Uganda Safari Limited Herbert Byaruhanga said.
The government has to go back and review the third phase if it is to launch the fourth phase so that the next stage can run stronger. In optimizing Uganda Tourism Potential, Byaruhanga believes in creating market strategy as a country to go along the way.
This, he says can be done by prioritizing flagship products packages that can make unique experiences and give lasting memories.
Byaruhanga said that involving travel journalists to publicize our country by writing their experience of the places they have visited. This can be done by taking them to different tour destination and letting them write about such experiences. More people will read about these articles and actually be interested in getting there if not better experience.
What is killing tourism and what must be done?
“Uganda has generous public negativity including the government agencies” Byaruhanga believes.
He added saying what we feed people outside there is what they will think of Uganda, if we show that we do not like our own country, how will they love it?
Feeling a sense of belonging and not always focusing on the negative can garner us more tourists.
He suggests that there is need for legislators that understands and appreciate tourism to draft laws that protect tourism. This creates a clear structure that helps the country and different players to work together with a clear vision.
Boosting earnings in tourism.
“There is need to priotize flagship products to sell to potential buyers who can bring in good money” Byaruhanga added.
He continuously said that they can also integrate systems of skills to make sure the people they have can compete in the region in terms of service delivery with certificates to show their skills.
Most staff do not have competence certificates which denies showcasing confidence on what they do especially in external markets to make sure they are paid good money.
He said there is need to be so aggressive in marketing tourism products, and to do a lot of research so that before going in the market, one knows what, how and when they are selling and to whom.
“The mandate for the group is to bring all women in tourism and hospitality industry together including employers, employee and students.” Jacqueline Kemigisha the managing Director of Plantinum Tours and Travel and the new chairperson of AUWORTT said.
Despite of the pandemic Covid-19 which affected women led- businesses, Kemigisha said the partnership they have which includes glow and PSFU will help women in finding financial support through grants and services to better their trade in the tourism sector.
