Uganda’s tourism shines in London

The Ugandan stand at the World Tourism Market in London did not win any award, but one could not fail to notice the unusual organisation, zeal, and traffic at the double-deck stall designed with backcloths.

The eye-catcher were dancers dressed in gorilla costumes performing Runyege, Magunju, Kadodi, among other traditional dances.

The UK based traditional dance troupe entertained the over 5,000 visitors who flocked the double-deck stand designed from the backcloth, and according to Boniface Kitandara, of Lake Kitandara Tours and Travel, it was the best event he has attended because Uganda was able to beat its neighbours almost on all fronts and he signed clients for his company. Uganda safari packages

Mr Edwin Muzahura, the marketing manager of the Uganda Tourism Board said; “Uganda reclaimed its identity as the home of the gorillas, on top of giving visitors a glimpse of what to find in the country.”
“Our tour operators signed deals there and then while in the past some would return without signing anything.”

The visitors were able to befriend the gorillas’ online, taste Ugandan coffee, and drink Uganda Waragi at the stall.
Also DVDs showing life in Uganda, the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) conference, hotels and tourisM attractions in the country were given out.

Uganda is home to three-quarters of the world’s 720 gorillas but in the past, Rwanda has wooed most tourists interested in mountain gorillas because they had strategically positioned themselves.

This year, during the events celebrating the year of the gorillas, the Uganda government spearheaded a campaign of marketing the country as the preferred destination for gorilla tours, which was climaxed by the visiting of Hollywood film actors and actresses who became gorilla ambassadors in America.

The high morale at the Ugandan stall in London left the East African neighbours speechless, looking caught off guard as groups of tourism agents checked in and out of the stall that was graced by among others Tourism Minister Serapio Rukundo, UK High Commissioner Joan Rwabyomere and France Ambassador Ms Alice Napiok.

Staged annually in London, the World Travel Market is a vibrant four day business to business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals. It is an opportunity for the global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business under one roof.

Ms Lilly Ajarova of Ngamba Island was nominated best eco-friendly community based initiative. Ms Ajarova who was conspicuously missing at the global do is the director of Ngamba Island, a chimpanzee sanctuary, which involves the surrounding communities in conserving the animals. She missed the event because she failed to secure a visa to the UK in time.

This did not go down well with Ugandans whose several colleagues at the Uganda Wildlife Centre and Civil Aviation Authority were turned down by UK’s visa section in Nairobi.

Some members of the tourism fraternity have expressed their dissatisfaction to the Foreign Affairs Ministry at the manner in which Britain handles their visa issues and say the problem is costing them marketing opportunities.

“About 10 people failed to secure visas to the UK, partly because the visa office handling Ugandans is far away in Nairobi and one cannot explain to the officers there. By the time they get back to you, probably an opportunity is gone,” an irritated Mr Muzahura said. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should sort out the diplomatic hiccups as it is becoming a hindrance to marketing tourism.”
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