As we head to the 2021 general polls, the state minister for tourism Godfrey Kiwanda has urged Ugandans to shun violence as the practice scares away tourists leading to loss of revenue to the country.
“As tourism, we are cognisant of the tensions this period creates and the image challenges when we don’t properly exercise our democratic rights. We urge all contestants and the voters to maintain peace, law and order and not to let differences in opinion bitterly divide our society” said Minister Kiwanda while addressing journalists at Uganda Media Center today ahead of the World Tourism Day.
He noted that tourism thrives on peace urging all contestants not to destroy tranquility as they compete to lead.
Meanwhile the minister revealed that the tourism sector has lost close to two billion USD due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiwanda said the closure of the borders among other measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus paralyzed all the tourism activities.
He however noted that the sector is in the recovery process as they are developing several strategies to overcome the situation among them reopening the airport and borders.
” The ministry launched guidelines for the tourism enterprises and currently we are on a nationwide campaign to sensitise and ensure compliance” said Minister Kiwanda
The month of September was dedicated as World Tourism month and the climax of the celebrations is 27th September, the World Tourism day.
In celebrating the day, this year, the ministry of tourism chose to put the spotlight on Fort portal in Kabarole.
Minister Kiwanda says this region exemplifies some of the best landscapes and a wonderful people that explain the brand Uganda, the pearl of Africa.
The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day commemoration is “Tourism and Rural Community development”
