Tourism and Rural Development

“Tourism and Rural Development”

Our huge emphasis is 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. How can we help rural communities to grow into large Tourism destinations in this region?

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.

At Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism we emphasize tourism sector’s importance for those communities that would otherwise be left behind.

Our first challenge goes to Fort Portal City, designated “Tourism city of Uganda”. The city located in the Kitara Region – 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

According to United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), “Tourism and Rural Development” recognizes 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.

“Uganda is the Pearl of Africa and Kitara Region 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”

Uganda is a preferred tourism destination given the beautiful attractions it has and our commitment is to develop tourism in this region to ensure that Kitara region becomes the most preferred destination in the whole world.

 “When you travel from Kampala to Fort Portal you witness vended slopes, extensive miles of tea plantations, and astonishing holy baboons in the national park thus, the world must see this beauty, we want to brand this region as the best tourism destination in Africa and the world and also call upon all Ugandans to marvel around the tourism capital in the beautiful Pearl of Africa.”

Published by Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism

Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism: We are the people of Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism. Based in Fort Portal Tourism City (the tourism capital of Uganda), Kitara Foundation is aimed at strengthening coordination, promotion, and preservation of tourism ecosystem services relevant for job skills creation while ensuring continuous benefits of tourism to the local people of Kitara region and their economies. We also focus at strengthening community resilience, protecting nature & preserving the Cultural Heritage of the people of Kitara region (Keep Kitara green and black). The Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism (herein after referred to as “the Foundation”) aims at coordinating different areas of Tourism within the Kitara region which comprises sub-regions of Tooro, Bunyoro, Ankole, Rwenzori and Kigezi. The establishment of the Foundation works to a regional cooperation among tourism actors, stakeholders and their communities. We are a social enterprise involved in regional Tourism Development aimed at improving community livelihoods, protecting nature & preserving cultural heritage. We do this by providing direct employment in our work, developing tourism products, regional tourism marketing and coordination of tourism industry in the region. The Foundation is responsible for furthering tourism coordination between Fort Portal Tourism City and all the districts of Kitara region namely; Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kagadi, Kibale, Hoima, Bulisa, Masindi, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Kasese, Kamwenge, Ibanda, Mbarara, Mbarara city, Buhweju, Kazo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Isingiro, Rwampala, Ntungamo, Kabale, Rukiga, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Mitooma, Shema, Bushenyi and Rubirizi. Our Vision: A Sustainable Competitive Tourism and hospitality Industry in Western Uganda (the Kitara Region). Our Goal: The leading Facilitator of Tourism and hospitality development, well equipped for a tourism transforming mission in the Kitara Region (Western Uganda). Our Mission: To Contribute to the transformation of the Tourism and hospitality industry in Western Uganda through Networking, marketing, building linkages and community participation in the regional Tourism and hospitality development industry. We are true citizens of Kitara region, our organization is locally owned, we hire and develop local talent. We aim at investing in local growth, the well-being of our people and the health of the local economy. Citizenship begins at home. We integrate both conventional and community tourism (Call it Development Tourism) in our work in order to maximize the benefits to the local population Tourism development is therefore at the core of our operations. We focus on rural areas affected most by decline in the capacity of agriculture. Degeneration of the countryside is prevented and cultural heritage preserved by raising supplementary family income through tourism. We focus on identifying potential tourism destinations and activities, building community capacity through education and creating demand through marketing and packaging. Our strength is in sharing information and full participation. We stand for a meaningful experience by spending time with the community. Discover the countryside in this region during nature walks, community visits and mountain hiking. Share daily life with the community by spending a day or night in a traditional homestead. Kitara Tourism Centers Kitara Foundation Kitara Region with best Tourism destinations Tourism in Kitara Region Tourism in Western Uganda with Kitara Foundation Tourism in Uganda with Kitara Foundation Tourism in East Africa with Kitara Foundation Tourism and Hospitality at Kitara Foundation Hospitality at Kitara Foundation The Kitara people and their life styles The Kitara Nature destinations Best Tourism Destinations with Kitara Foundation Community Tourism with Kitara Foundation