Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 41st World Tourism Day 2020 which is being observed with the slogan “Tourism and Rural Development” emphasizing on the tourism sector’s huge potentiality of steering the economic development to bridge the gap between the people who come from small communities and big cities / towns on 27th September 2020.
Just like many rural communities, tourism in Uganda means opportunity. It provides jobs and economic empowerment, including for women and youth. Tourism gives Uganda rural communities the ability to protect and promote their natural surroundings, as well as their culture and heritage. In doing so, it allows domestic visitors and foreign tourists to enjoy unique experiences in Uganda.
In 2020, World Tourism Day celebrates tourism sector’s importance for those communities that would otherwise be left behind.
The official 2020 World Tourism Day in Uganda were held in Fort Portal City, designated “Tourism city of Uganda”. The city located in the Western Region of the East African country (301.4 km from the capital – Kampala is the seat of both Kabarole District and the Tooro Kingdom
The official functions were held at Nyaika Hotel in Fort Portal with delegation led by King Oyo Kabamba Rukidi Iguru of Tooro Kingdom and officials from the Royal Monarchy, The Uganda Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities (RTD) Hon Col. Tom Butime and Ministry officials; Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Lilly Ajarova, United Nations Development Program Country Coordinator –Rosa Malango among others.
According to United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), World Tourism Day 2020 “Tourism and Rural Development” celebrates tourism as the ultimate cross-cutting sector that contributes to all of the #SDGs. With coordination and solidarity, tourism can accelerate the achievement of #Agenda2030.
This year’s celebrations had earlier kick-started with tours to different Fort Portal tourism attractions and sites since Thursday. King Oyo, Hon Col. Tom Butime, Lilly Ajarova , and Rosa Malango joined a tree planting session on the premises of the Tooro Kingdom Palace on 27 September to mark the celebration.
While addressing guests at Nyaika Hotel in Fort Portal during the days Celebrations on Sunday, His Majesty King Oyo of Tooro congratulated Uganda and the International Community upon celebrating World Tourism Day and also sympathized with operators in tourism, travel and hospitality sector nationally for the losses incurred since outbreak of the pandemic.
“I congratulate you all upon celebrating the international World Tourism and also thank Government for commemorating the day together with the Tooro Kingdom for the first time ever in the history of the Kingdom. However, I express my solidarity to all those that were affected and infected by Covid-19 and extend my sincere condolences to all those that have lost their loved ones. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the Private sector so much especially those in the tourism business,” the king said.
The Uganda Tourism Board CEO –Lilly Ajarova thanked King Oyo for enabling World Tourism Day activities take place in the Kingdom and also congratulated him upon 25 years of the King on the throne of Tooro Kingdom celebrated on 12 September 2020.
“Indeed Uganda is the Pearl of Africa and Tooro has some of the tourism sites and attractions that contribute to Uganda’s glory in terms of tourism and wildlife as the country offers a diversity of what all other destinations in the World have and we thank you for always supporting all the activities in the development of tourism in the region,” Arjarova said.
She continued and revealed that UTB is mandated towards promoting Uganda’s tourism and also observed that the Uganda is a preferred tourism destination given the beautiful attractions as the board is ready and committed towards the task to ensure that Uganda becomes the most preferred destination in the whole world.
“The Tourism and travel sector has been the most impacted of all sectors by the Covid-19 global pandemic, therefore the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda Tourism Board and all other agencies in the private sector are really working hard to ensure tourism in Uganda recovers while we put in place whatever is required to have the sector back. We have also gone a step ahead working together with the local Government to make sure the Standard Operating Procedures mandated are fully observed,” she added.
United Nations Development Program Country Coordinator –Rosa Malango congratulated the Kingdom and Uganda upon celebrating the World Tourism Day.
“As UNDP, it’s my delight to warmly welcome you to this particular day, and also thank you all for coming to Fort Portal City to commemorate World Tourism Day. I once again welcome all of you to the land of Empaako, the snow-capped Rwenzori mountains, Nyakasura falls, prestige crater lakes, beautiful sceneries, rich cultural heritage and land of the most delicious traditional foods,” she commented.
She added that;
“As we travelled from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park, we witnessed venden slopes, extensive miles of tea plantations, and astonishing holy baboons in the national park thus, the world must see this beauty, we must brand our Country as the best tourism destination in Africa and the world and also call upon all Ugandans to marvel around the beautiful Pearl Of Africa.”
Rosa also revealed that, they have put together a stimulus package worth EURO 6 Million for the tourism sector through the Uganda Development Bank in partnership with the European Union among several other benefits so as to boost Uganda’s tourism sector.
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