Road To Recovery: Tourism Ministry Recent Survey Shows Positive Signs of Recovery

A number of sectors and Businesses went on standstill for almost a full month due to the Outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2020 in the country and the incomes were hugely affected.

The Tourism sector was among the hugely affected sector and recorded a huge loss in the the year.

According to Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, prior to Covid-19 era, the sector was the leading foreign exchange earner for Uganda, generating at least 1.6Bn USD in annual foreign exchange earnings.

The sector had been employing 536600 jobs and bringing in 1,542,620 foreign visitors as of 2019.

But all that statistics were highly hit down by the Pandemic and the Survey made indicates that the annual foreign exchange earnings dropped by 73%. From 1.6Bn to 0.5bn USD.

The number of foreign visitors dropped by 69.3%, which is 473,985 in numbers, the employment opportunities went down by 70% and by June 2020, Hotel occupancy rates dropped from average of 58% to as low as 5% with 75% of hotel bookings (448,996) cancelled causing a direct loss of 320.8M USD, an equivalent of Ugshs 1.19 trillion.

However according to Ministry Permanent Secretary, Doreen Katusiime revealed to press in a media briefing held at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday morning,  the Ministry has engaged many stakeholders on their road to recovery to see that the sector bounceback to it’s feet even in this ongoing pandemic.

“The government quickly responded to the challenge, working with the private sector, development partners and Ministry of Health, undertook several interventions to resuscitate the sector.” Said Ministry PS, Doreen Katusiime.

 According to Survey undertaken by the Ministry, there is positive signs of recovery, the statistics revealed to media today tells the story.

Overall tourist bookings have tripped by the first quarter of 2021, increasing from 27,542 bookings recorded by end of August 2020 to 83,464 bookings by end of March 2021.

 Foreign tourist bookings increased faster growing fourfold between August 2020 and March 2021 while domestic tourist bookings tripped over the same period.

Bookings registered by Airlines and accommodation facilities doubled by end of March 2021. While bookings registered by tour operators increased eleven-fold between August 2020 and March 2021.

 Atleast 30% of Tourism jobs were recovered by the end of 2021.

 The foreign non-residents visiting the parks doubled, increasing from 3,577 to 7,318 visitors.

Revenue collections recorded by Uganda Wildlife Authority doubled in the first three months of 2021, increasing from 3 billion at the end of December 2020 to 6 billion at the end of March 2021.

Permanent Secretary is saying that alot the ministry is planning to do in fully bouncing back to road and even expanding the revenue sources for the industry.