Regional Tourism

At Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism we are passionate about tourism at two regional levels; the Kitara region of Western Uganda and the East African Community as a region.

Tourism plays a significant part in Uganda’s and East Africa’s economy, contributing to both GDP and employment. This is particularly true for East Africa regional economies, where tourism often accounts for a greater share of GDP and employment than in the region’s capital cities, underlying the importance of tourism to regional divisions of East Africa.

In regional tourism we refer to regional and rural tourism. Regional tourism is tourism concentrated in a region. A region is an area that can be distinguished from other areas by its own cultures and structure.

Regional tourism is not only movement, it is also imagination and expectation: what shall I see on the route, which challenges are there, what can I do, whom shall I meet. What is nature like and what about the villages I am walking, riding or driving through, the castles on the top, the regional meals to eat, etc.

Collectively promoting and marketing the Community as a Single Tourist Destination while conserving and ensuring sustainable utilization of wildlife and other tourist sites.

Tourism is one of the most significant sectors in all the economies of the EAC region. The sector contributes an average of about 17% to export earnings and its contribution to GDP is quite substantial averaging at around 10%. It generates about 7% of employment in the region. 

Moreover, tourism has important linkages with other sectors of the economy including agriculture, transport, manufacturing, insurance, and finance among others. The sector grew steadily in all the EAC Partner States with total international tourism arrivals increasing from 3.47 million to 6.95 million between 2006 and 2019.

However, this steady growth was disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 that brought about a sharp drop in international arrivals in all EAC Partner States. Despite the drop, there are signs of strong recovery in the region and it is anticipated the pre-pandemic levels of performance could be achieved by 2024.

Owing to its socio-economic significance in the region, tourism is one of the key productive sectors that have been identified for cooperation in EAC. Cooperation in the sector is provided for under Article 115 of the EAC Treaty where Partner States undertake to develop a collective and coordinated approach to the promotion and marketing of quality tourism into and within the Community.

In particular, Partner States undertake to:

  • Co-ordinate policies in the tourism industry and establish a framework of cooperation in the sector that will ensure equitable distribution of benefits;
  • Establish a common code of conduct for private and public tour and travel operators, standardize hotel classifications and harmonize the professional standards of agents; and
  • Develop a regional strategy for tourism promotion whereby individual efforts are reinforced by regional action

Related to tourism, EAC Partner States cooperate in wildlife conservation as stipulated by Article 116 of the EAC Treaty where the Partner States undertake to develop a collective and coordinated policy for conservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife and other tourist sites in the Community: In particular, the Partner States undertake to:

  • Harmonize policies on wildlife conservation;
  • Exchange information;
  • co-ordinate efforts in controlling and monitoring encroachment and poaching activities; and
  • Encourage the joint use of training and research facilities and common management plans for trans-border protected areas.

In line with the above provisions of the Treaty, notable progress has been made in various aspects such as the development of common classification for tourism accommodation establishments and restaurants; joint tourism promotion and having a coordinated approach in combating poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

In addition, a Draft Protocol on Tourism and Wildlife Management has been developed and was adopted by the 41st Meeting of the Council of Ministers in November 2021. The adopted protocol was left to be finalized through the Sectoral Council on Legal and Judicial Affairs.

Sector Opportunities

Tourism in the East African region has many opportunities. While affording travelers an impressive range of options for exploration and relaxation, the region presents incredible potential for investors across the tourism value chain.

This includes investment opportunities in the tourism accommodation sub-sector, attraction sites, tour operations, and travel agents among others. Partner States offer diverse investment incentives such as custom duty exemptions for certain items used in the sector.

Sector Challenges

Some of the challenges facing the tourism and wildlife sector in East Africa include:

  • Inadequate and inefficient infrastructure;
  • Negative travel advisories from source markets;
  • Stiff competition from relatively cheaper destinations;
  • Inadequate financial and human resource;
  • Absence of harmonized policies;
  • Limited participation in joint international and regional tourism promotion fairs and exhibitions;
  • Lack of common approach to implementation of international and regional treaties or agreements;
  • Poaching and wildlife habitat loss;
  • Inadequate Research and Development; and
  • High susceptibility to disasters and pandemics.

In respect to the tourism sector, these sub-themes will revolve around aspects such as tourism resilience and crisis management, digital tourism marketing, development of multi-destination tourism packages and tourism investment opportunities and incentives. On the other hand, wildlife-related sub-themes will include Combating Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade and economic valu

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