TOURISM

TOURISM: Are the firms hired to boost sector delivering results? Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Godfrey Kiwanda is a Ugandan politician, junior minister for tourism and speaks passionately about Uganda’s tourism sector. On January 16, he told The Independent that he is among the government officials spearheading the government’s …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Mohsen al-Khayami has for years watched sadly as his once lucrative craft business dwindled and fellow artisans deserted the ancient art known as Khayamiya, or tentmaking, for better paying jobs. The 68 year-old, a master of one of Egypt’s most traditional crafts, has been handstitching the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament has asked the government to support projects that Miss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo is involved in. Abenakyo, who was crowned Miss World Africa at the Miss World Finale, in the southern tropical Chinese province of Hainan, last month, has embarked on an aggressive campaign …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Works and Transport Monica Azuba has said that the government is committed to constructing the standard gauge railway whether Kenya plays its part or not. Kenya is currently constructing 120 km line from Nairobi to Naivasha at $1.7bn and will be …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Japan on Monday started levying a 1,000 yen ($9.22) departure tax on each person leaving the country, a measure aimed at raising funds to further boost tourism. The International Tourist Tax will cover everyone regardless of nationality — from business people to holidaymakers older than …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Tourism is planning a big welcome for miss Uganda Quinn Abenakyo, who returns Wednesday after a stunning performance that saw finish in the top five at the 68th Miss World contest in China. Abenakyo emerged 2nd runner up in a global contest …

Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Fodor’s Travel, the internationally-recognized guidebook publisher and travel authority has featured Uganda on its annual Go List as one of the 52 destinations to visit in 2019, according to a press statement issued by Uganda Tourism Board on Dec.10. The Fodor’s website is published out …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is optimistic that foreign visitors to the country may hit the 1.7 million mark in 2018. This will be up from the 1.3 million foreign arrivals in 2017. According to UTB’s chief executive Stephen Asiimwe, the preliminary figures gleaned …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | “How many tourists actually visit Uganda?” is a question that many keep asking. According to Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), 1.3 million visitors came to Uganda, generating 1.4 billion dollars. Uganda Radio Network put this question to the chief executive of UTB, Stephen Asiimwe, on whether …

Niamey, Niger | AFP | Part of a group of a rare giraffes that has become a Niger tourist attraction is to be moved to a reserve 600 kilometres (400 miles) away owing to encroaching desert, farmland and increasing instances of them being struck by vehicles, officials said Wednesday. “It’s …