Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Tourism Board, with support from TotalEnergies Uganda, has developed a mobile application that is aimed at growing Uganda’s tourism sector through increased visibility.
The app, Explore Uganda, is intended to be a one-stop centre for all information regarding tourism in Uganda, including attractions, accommodation, events calendars, and service providers, among others.
UTB Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Ajarova says that the app also lists hotels, resorts and lodges and their categories. However, those that are not licensed by UTB will not appear on the app.
She says the app was informed by the need to engage with the modern traveller in real-time, to provide an interactive way to experience what Uganda has to offer, thus bringing Uganda closer to travellers.
Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, the State Minister for Tourism hailed UTB for consolidating Uganda’s tourism message into one simple phrase, “Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa,” unlike previously where there were many uncoordinated messages.
However, Mugarra expressed disappointment at the low budgetary allocations that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development give UTB for marketing, yet it is visibility that ensures its growth.
He urged for efforts by everyone to market the app, adding that without evidence of sales, there will be no proof of the success of the app.
Uganda’s tourism sector suffered a blow when the COVID-19 outbreak put a halt on international travel when visitor numbers had grown to 1.5 million with a mid-term vision then of 2 million, and earnings of 2 billion dollars annually.
Since 2022, however, it has steadily been on the rise again, reaching about 1.2 million visitors last year and slightly more than 1 billion dollars.
This year, the number of visitors is expected to rise to 1.5 million.
Pearl Kakooza, the UTB Board Chairperson says the app will definitely increase Uganda’s visibility but also enable the country’s industry players to easily put their products on the market, while the tourists will also get all the information they need more easily.
TotalEnergies Uganda Director for Biodiversity, Pauline MacDonald said their support to the project is one of the wider conservative obligations because their operations are concentrated in protected areas.
According to her, they have now turned to innovation to contribute to biodiversity protection and tourism, to support the socioeconomic development of the communities and the country as a whole.
The development has also been hailed by private sector players in the tourism industry, who also called for the support of the government to ensure, not the success of the app, but the faster growth of the sector too.
Charlotte Beauvoisin, a travel writer through her blog “Dairy of Muzungu” said she focuses on marketing Uganda to the European market, leveraging the the fact that travellers gain confidence in her because she is European.
But with the app, the first of its kind in Eastern Africa, she says, her work will be easier, adding to calls to have it sold widely.
Denis Ntege, director at Adrift and Wildwaters Lodge said the App creates a good platform for both small, unknown and larger popular monuments, to shine on the same stage.
He says this is a solution to the difficulty of marketing Uganda’s numerous attractions scattered all over the country, and that the App has come at a good time when almost everyone finds the mobile phone as the first option to look for information.
The App can be downloaded from any mobile app store, and is intended to be user-friendly to both domestic and international tourists.
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