TOURISM

Paris, France | AFP |  Long dismissed as a symptom of narcissistic youth culture, the not-so-humble selfie has become big business. As hotels vie to become the next viral hotspot and new technology is developed to cater to those searching for that perfect picture of themselves, here are five things to …

Local industrialists asked to bridge Shs 300bn annual financing gap Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Conservationists and industrialists rarely agree on matters regarding environmental conservation but in two rare meetings held in Kampala over breakfast, they both concurred on the need to work together to save the country’s fast …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 2,533 people have signed a petition to stop the planned construction of a power dam near Murchison Falls, which could see the disappearance of the falls, a key attraction to the area. This overshoots the petitioner’s target of 2,500 people. The petition was …

New York, United States | AFP | NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station to business ventures including space tourism as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab. Price tag? Tens of millions of dollars for a round trip ticket and $35,000 a night. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Officials in Maracha district have asked the Government to upgrade Miriandua Waterfalls, along the Arua – Koboko road to an International Tourism Site. The area first came into the limelight three years ago during an inspection tour by district officials who uncovered a beautiful …

Fez, Morocco | AFP |  In recent times the imperial city of Fez has been overlooked by tourists in favour of  Marrakesh, but now Morocco’s “spiritual” capital is bustling with visitors due to major renovations and low-cost flights. “It is an open air museum, with the largest pedestrian zone in the …

Paris, France | AFP | The illegal slaughter of African elephants to feed Asia’s demand for ivory has decreased by more than half in eight years, but the majestic mammals are still threatened with extinction, researchers warned Tuesday. In 2011, poachers killed some 40,000 tuskers — about ten percent of the …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As Uganda looks to strengthen its potential as a premier tourist and film hub in the region, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Ugandan filmmakers will take part in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival that runs from today, May 14 …

Hilton Hotels & Resorts is committed to two hotels in Uganda – Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Kampala – to serve different market segments. Samantha Muna, the director of development for the hotel brand in East Africa spoke to The Independent’s Isaac Khisa about their plans and opportunities in the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has said Ugandans should get visas on entry in South Africa. Museveni was reacting to reports that several Ugandan tour operators recently had difficulty getting visas while others were denied entry to attend the Indaba Tourism Fair in Durban last week. …