The number of tourists coming to
Uganda from the UK and Ireland has surpassed previous years’ records
despite the recent Ebola outbreak.
A statement from the Uganda High
Commission in London said there were increased applications for Uganda
immigration entry visas averaging about 50 applications per day. The
peak was in May-June when applications reached the 80 per day mark.
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| Buffaloes in Queen Elizabeth National Park |
The outgoing High Commissioner,
Joan Rwabyomere, attributed this to the prevailing peace in the country
and the distinctive attraction of Uganda as a tourist destination
arising out of the variety of its game stock and its unspoilt scenic
beauty.
She
noted that the tourism industry had grown enormously in Uganda with
clearly visible features including improved service delivery, facilities
and awareness.
Uganda generally has substantial
natural resources for tourism with a variety of landscape and
ecosystems, climates and cultures.
Rwabyomere added that the Uganda Mission had the capacity to process the high numbers of applications.
Individual
and group applications are processed in one working day with collection
being on the next day between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Applications
received through the Post take up to a week to be processed.
Tourism in Uganda is an important generator of foreign exchange, high-end employment, and investment.
According
to the World Economic Forum, the sector contributed over shs1.5
trillion ($660m), 8 per cent contribution to Gross Domestic Product in
2010.
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| Mountain gorilla tracking is one major tourist attraction in Uganda |
The Government has therefore
encouraged increased investment in tourism, particularly in travel,
accommodation and related facilities because this enhances tourists'
experience in the country.
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