World Tourism Day 27 September: Theme: “Tourism and Transformation“

Introduction: Every time we travel, for whatever reason, we are part of a global movement; a movement that has the power to drive inclusive development, create jobs and build the sustainable societies we want for our future; a movement that builds mutual understanding and can help us safeguard our shared natural and cultural heritage; a movement that can promote, foster peace and end violence in the world, can bring about sustainable transformation.

The theme for World Tourism Day 2025 is “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” This theme emphasizes the critical role tourism plays in driving sustainable development and transformation globally. Uganda, with its rich natural and cultural heritage, has immense potential to leverage tourism for sustainable transformation.

What does “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” mean?

Tourism and Sustainable Transformation refers to the approach of using tourism as a catalyst for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This involves adopting responsible tourism practices that promote environmental conservation, socio-cultural preservation, and economic empowerment of local communities. https://kitararcc.com/2025/01/13/tourism-and-sustainable-transformation/

Kitara Foundation has organized Adventure trips for each day during the World Tourism week to local Nature and Cultural destinations in the region. These travels will be coordinated from Fort Portal City due to its central location in the region and its Tourism City phenomenon.

Arrival Time: All visitors participating in these World Tourism Week activities, both international and Uganda visitors will arrive in Fort Portal the weekend of 20-21 September to embark on the week tours on Monday 22 September.

Day 1 Monday 22 September, A visit to Ngite Waterfalls, the Cocoa Farm tours and Bumaga Cultural Community: A trip to Ngite waterfalls and Cocoa Farming tours, featuring views of Western Rift Valley Escarpments and Ssempaya Hot Springs in Semulik National Park will connect to the Mabaga cultural community, the community that is linked to Sempaya Hot Springs.  Find more at https://kitararcc.com/2024/07/03/a-cultural-adventure-trip-to-the-magical-hot-springs-and-waterfalls-of-uganda/

Day 2 Tuesday 23 September, Visit to Mahoma Waterfalls: Mahoma waterfalls are good for community nature walks, hydrotherapy water massage, bird viewing and other scenic views. Mahoma Waterfalls day is featuring Crater Lakes excursion, covering lakes such as Lake Nyinambuga (one on the Uganda 20k note), lake Mwitampungu, lake Mwamba and Lake Kifurukwa. It will also include Rwetera Tea Plantions. See more at  https://kitararcc.com/2023/06/23/a-trip-to-the-african-hydrotherapy-massage-of-mahoma-water-falls-in-uganda/

Day 3 Wednesday 24 September, Visit to Nyakahondogoro Caves: A trip to Nyakahondogoro Caves (the last home of Bacwezi in Uganda) up in Mabanga Hills of Ibanda District. Featuring Equator line crossing, Historical sites of Sir Harry Gault (the British Administrator who was speared to death on his visit to Sir Julia Kibubura of Kibubura Girls School-the first female Chief in Uganda). See more at https://kitararcc.com/2023/12/13/tooro-visits-ankole-on-an-enchanting-adventure-travel-to-the-last-home-of-bacwezi-in-the-ancient-kitara-empire/

Day 4 Thursday 25th September; Visit the most scenic Mpanga Gorge in the Cycads Village on River Mpanga: Visit to the Cycads Village in Kitagwenda, Includes a hike thru the Cycad Villages of Karubuguma, Hiking Mpanga Gorge with Mpanga River waterfalls. Featuring scenic views of Lake George, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Source of Kazinga Channel, Kibale National Park, Rwetera tea estates, Crater lakes. Find more on https://kitararcc.com/2024/02/06/captivating-adventures-to-the-africas-cycad-villages-of-kyotamusana-and-karubuguma/

Day 5: Friday 26 September: Hike to Karangura High Peak in Rwenzori Mountains at 3014M ASL for a physical tour and panromic views of Uganda. https://kitararcc.com/2024/03/04/the-planned-tourist-on-his-longest-hike-karangura-peak-in-the-rwenzori/

Day 7: Saturday 27 September: Join Uganda to commemorate the World Tourism Day at the venue selected.

Day 8 Sunday 28 September; A hike to Kiima Waterfalls in Rwenzori Mountains: Hike to Kiima Waterfalls at Mapata Village in the Rwenzoris in Kasese. The trek features four magnificent waterfalls each located with a staning cave, all in one village of Mapatha, coffee farms, an encounter of the Rwenzori mountain, Bakonzo cultural entertainment and local foods, scenic views of Ankole area. The hike is a tough one but worth it. Find more at  https://kitararcc.com/2024/02/05/the-challenge-to-kiima-waterfalls-in-mapatha-village-in-the-mountains-of-the-moon/ 

Alternative Destination; Visit to the Long Horned Ankole Cows Community: Trip to Rwamwanja Community of Long Horned Ankole Cows: A visit to the oldest indigenous cattle breeds of Africa is one of the most African interesting experiences. The trip features Kibale National Park home of Kimpanzee, and also the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement. For a number of activities you can engage in find it at; https://kitararcc.com/longo-horned-kitara-cows/

Alternative Destination: visit to Rwagimba Hot prings: Begin with a visit to Karuzika Tooro King’s palace and other cultural sites such as Empaako Village, end the day with Rwagimba Hot springs for a warm water shower. Find more at https://kitararcc.com/2023/06/23/the-mystical-challenge-to-rwagimba-rwajimba-hot-springs-in-uganda/

Alternative Destination: Nature walk to Lake Kyaninga and Kyaninga Forest:

Alternative Destination: Visit to Lake Africa and the Twin Lakes of Bunyaruguru: For the Mystery that sarouds the formation of the Kitara’s twin crater lakes Kyema and Kamweru with Lake Africa found in Rubirizi district of Kitara region. The pair located in Magambo Sub-county is part of the 32 crater lakes and one pair of twin lakes, sit on the western arm of the East African Rift Valley. https://kitararcc.com/2023/03/21/the-mysterious-twin-lakes-of-kitara-region/

Additional Day 8 Monday 30 September: For those that may want to end the trip with a relaxation in one of the Uganda’s Conventional Tourism Destinations we suggest Kibale National Park for Chimpanzee trekking or Queen Elizabeth National Park for the big five. If one may want to go for guelirra trekking, Options can be made for Mgahinga or Bwindi National Parks.

World Tourism Day 2025: The date for World Tourism Day is appropriate because it comes at the end of the high tourist season in the northern hemisphere and the start of the tourist season in the southern hemisphere, when tourism is of topical interest to many people worldwide, particularly travelers and those working in the tourism sector.

While many tourist destinations are well-known, there are countless hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Often when we talk about tourism in Uganda we focus on 10 National Parks; 12 Wildlife Reserves; 5 Community Wildlife Management Areas; and 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries. This year’s World Tourism day is a day to encourage travelers to venture off the beaten path and discover the less-known destinations. This helps distribute the benefits of tourism more evenly and reduces the strain on overcrowded hotspots.

This year around World Tourism Day, we want to take tourism to the hidden treasures in the communities of Western Uganda. By joining us you will help to raise awareness of the important impact tourism has on our country and communities and its potential as a force for good, creating peace and a better world for all.

As part of the World Tourism Day festivities, Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism has planned a 7 Day- long travels to the most beautiful but hidden nature destinations in Western Uganda communities covering 8 districts and one city in Western Uganda.

These Community Tourism travels during the World Tourism week will focus on the ability of tourism to empower people and equip them with the necessary skills to change their local communities.

Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism with all participants during the World Tourism Week will implement communication activities to educate the community on the development of tourism as well as transforming citizen’s acceptance for tourism into lobbying for further demand on the growth of national and community tourism. The main target for this World Tourism Week communication will be the local tourism groups such as Hiking Clubs and communities around the these major tourism destinations.

As a guest with Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism, this World Tourism week you may choose any or all of the nature destinations listed below, we will be happy to host you and travel with you. These destinations have been carefully selected based on their uniqueness, beauty and importance to the communities around them. These travels will be coordinated from Fort Portal City, Uganda’s tourism capital in the region.

Fort Portal is more privileged to have been crowned as the only tourism city known in the country, thus most tourists who come to Uganda admire to reach Fort Portal Tourism City. However, most tourism programs are leading to the mainstream tourism destinations such as the National Parks, missing an opportunity to experience life changing community experiences and the best unbeatable community routes. It’s for this reason that Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism has developed these unique routes though communities in the region for this year’s World Tourism Day. Adventure experiences here are done by the people and with people, the true meaning of Community Tourism. Our Tourism program aims at benefiting both visitors and people of the communities hosting them. These are cost effective but rewarding tour experiences.

Why you should join us on the World Tourism Week Community Travels?

By joining these program you will supporting Kitara Foundation’s Mission of Contribute to the transformation of the Tourism and hospitality industry in Western Uganda through Product development, Networking, Marketing, building linkages and community participation in the regional Tourism development and Conservation industry. Kitara Foundation aims at investing in local growth, the well-being of local people and the health of the local economy. The end result is the tourism industry that benefits the local people, the visitors and the national economy.

There is a huge potential of tourism in the local communities with local people developing, documenting and showcasing their natural resources, their daily life, their cultural heritage, customs and traditions. This type of tourism based in rural communities has proven to attract huge numbers of tourists because it gives them an opportunity to make bonds with communities they visit through participation in daily life and service provision.

Community Based Tourism development is at the core of all 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 sites and activities, building community capacity through education and creating demand through marketing and packaging.

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

Key Principles in this Community Based Tourism

The keys to a successful Community Based Tourism program for the hikers clubs are in five principles

1) Collaborate; Work with local communities around identified tourism products and destinations to develop, protect and manage the tourism sites

2) Find the fit between a community and tourism; Every community in Uganda is a potential tourism destination, every work is a potential tourism product, and everyone is a potential tourism entrepreneur.

3) Make tourism sites and programs come alive; Communities in Western Uganda are gifted with Natural Resources, varied cultural experiences, all which are potential tourism destination.

4) Focus on quality and authenticity; We work with communities to add value to the the natural tourism attractions, initiate additional attractions and products, and empower communities to take responsibility.

5) Preserve and protect resources; We work with communities to take responsible use of natural resources and to guard them against degradation and misuse.

We believe in a sense that every community is a potential tourism destination and every citizen is a potential business partner to be trained in small business management, environmental awareness, product development and marketing. This type of ‘people-centered’ tourism is promoting a sense of ‘ownership’ which augurs well for the industry’s sustainability.

Through training, local people will come to appreciate their culture, way of life and rural environment as valuable assets in tourism development. Community Based tourism involves local people in planning, decision-making and implementation of tourism products. This form of tourism assures that the benefits stay as much as possible in the local community.

Community Based Tourism is a form of sustainable tourism that allows visitors to connect closely with the communities they visit. This emerging form of travel gives guests authentic experiences, while allowing revenue generated to remain in the often rural, poor, or economically marginalized community. The communities run these tourism enterprises that provide services such as village tours, nature walks, cultural performances, and foods on their own initiatives.

Community ecotourism is a particular facet of community based tourism, where at least some of the experiences are natural resource-based. Community ecotourism benefits both environmental conservation and local communities, the former generating financing for the management of the natural resource area.

For inquieries or to book your participation contact us through +256772888149, +256752888149 or send us your interest using the link below;