Uganda: World Heritage site burned down

The nearly 130 years old Kasubi Tombs in Kampala , where several of the late Kings of Buganda are laid to rest and which was a focal point for tourists and the kingdom’s subjects for visits, burned down. It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, and has always had a special place in the itineraries for tourists.

Source: eTurboNews; find article here>>.

"Uganda’s tourism sector sniffs more business after passing of Bill"

As reported by Phillip Nabyama, at the East African Business Week, "Following Uganda’s successful hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of State (CHOGM) in which the country made substantial strides in tourism publicity and development, the country’s Parliament has passed the much-anticipated Tourism Bill 2007.
The Bill which has been in Parliament since 2005, has been sidelined by political issues but also delayed by 'certain bureaucrats opposed to vesting more functions in the Uganda Tourist Board (UTB) (now known as Tourism Uganda (TU)) and changing the board structure to allow the private sector a qualified majority,' according to an industry source." Read more>>

Uganda: Parliament passes new tourism law

Parliament has passed the Uganda Tourism Bill 2007 into law. The new law that was passed on Tuesday will govern tourism activities in the country.
An excited state minister for tourism Serapio Rukundo said it would accelerate the development of the sector. The law, he noted, was good because it was friendly to the private sector that drives tourism.
The law sets standards, provides for licensing, regulating and controlling the tourism sector. It will give effect to the implementation of the Tourism Policy 2003 and reconstitute the Uganda Tourist Board to make it private sector-driven. A tourism development levy will be charged to establish a Tourism Development Fund.

Source: eTurboNews; read full article here.

"New Law to Boost Tourism in Uganda Africa"

"After previous plans to revamp the tourism sector failed, stakeholders have now pinned all hope to rejuvenate this sleeping giant on Bill that has been in Parliament for two years. The Tourism Bill 2005 that has been gathering dust in the House without making it to the floor is now expected to be enacted into law before the end of this year following the intervention of President Yoweri Museveni. Gorillas in Bwindi National Park are a leading tourist attraction It seeks to remove the legal and institutional bottlenecks to the development of the tourism industry that presently accounts for 25% of the country’s total export earnings." Read more>>

Source: Uganda Travel News

"Uganda to adopt tourism legislation in line with UN"

As reported by Michael Verikios at the International Travel Daily News, the "Uganda's government is to introduce tourism legislation in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals as Uganda President, his excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni revealed in his keynote address to the 4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism.
'One of the key constraints to tourism development has been the weak law and regulations to guide and enforce proper development in the industry. The role of the law in the sustainable development of tourism and poverty alleviation is critical. The legislation should enshrine policies that are pro poor and underpin a coherent institutional framework and supportive infrastructure for the private sector,' the President said."

The full text of this article is available, here.

4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism

4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism
20-25 May 2007, Kampala, Uganda

Conference Goals:
Develop public and government appreciation of the central role of tourism in sustainable wealth creation, cultural enrichment, and preservation of biodiversity on the African Continent;
Enhance international public appreciation of Africa’s positive attributes including its rich mosaic of peoples, cultures, and biodiversity;
Identify and develop strategies for expanding market opportunities in Asia, Europe, North America, and domestic markets, and continue building the ‘Asia – Africa Bridge of Tourism, Friendship and Collaboration';
Encourage and facilitate collaborative public – private sector – donor – NGO and civil society strategies for new product development; and
Foster initiatives that contribute to reconciliation, peace and sustainable wealth creation in regions that have experienced conflict.

Find more information here.