TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN UGANDA
Tourism is a fast-growing sector supported by the fact that Uganda is ranked as a top tourist destination and one of only three countries with about 50% of the world’s known population of endangered mountain gorillas. (Source: Lonely planet 2012 and CNN 2016, which ranked Uganda among the top 16 holiday destinations in the world)
Game viewing is the most popular tourist activity in the country’s national parks. This is because the country has a variety of game, including the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, white rhinoceros, and elephant and it is home to 11% of the world’s bird species (a total of 1,060 bird species). It is also blessed with unspoiled scenic beauty including forests, hills and mountains, rivers and lakes.
Opportunities in tourism range from:-
- Constructing high quality accommodation facilities,
- Operating tour and travel circuits (bicycle tours, air balloon travel, marine activities on Lake Victoria and river rafting on the Nile River)
- Development of specialised eco and community tourism facilities and faith-based tourism such as pilgrimages to the Namugongo-Uganda martyrs, Mahatma Gandhi statue, and Bishop Hannington landing site on the Nile.
- Steadily growing tourist numbers are estimated to have reached 1.5 million per year, contributing 7.7% to GDP.
- Luxury tented camps and cottages
- House Boats, Cruise Launches on the Nile and Sport fishing on the Lakes Victoria, Albert, Edward and George
- Walking Safaris in the wilderness areas and the volcanic craters
- Canopy Walkways in tropical forests and sky trams
- Development of Lodges and other types of accommodation to suit the various categories of visitors
- Nature walks, game farming, game ranching and sport hunting on private property (private wildlife reserves).
- House boats and other water based activities
- Mountaineering packages for Rwenzori, Elgon and Mgahinga Mountains
- Internal air transport services to the national parks and other domestic touristic hubs.
- White water rafting on the Nile
- Hot springs baths and supporting facilities
- Stop over facilities en-route to the national parks along major tourism circuits e.g. Kampala – Mbarara – Kasese – Mubende – Kampala; Kampala – Masindi – Gulu – Kitgum
- Establishment of a cable car system and ancillary facilities. The proposed cable car system and ancillary facilities in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park will unlock the tourism potential of the Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Also, known as mountains of the moon, Mount Rwenzori is situated in Kasese district in the borders of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwenzori Mountains are a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site, with snow-capped peaks at the equator endowed with rich and unique flora and fauna as well as outstanding scenic beauty. Among these are the 994 recorded plant species, 217 bird species, and animal species such as the Rwenzori duiker, Chimpanzee and the African Elephant.1 Mount Rwenzori stands at 4,500m above sea level and is the second highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The high altitude has been a great challenge for travellers taking 5-6 full days to reach Margherita, the highest peak of Mount Rwenzori at 5,119m above sea-level making it quite hard, deterring many tourists from visiting it to explore its uniqueness. The installation of cable cars will not only ease movement for mountain climbers, who take approximately five days to reach the mountain top, but will also provide easy and controlled access to showcase the region’s rich, natural and historical heritage.
- Establishment of luxury accommodation; Tourists within the Rwenzori region consume a number of goods and services such as transportation, hotel and restaurant services, crafts and communication services. Accommodation & Food Service accounted for 3.9% and 6.3% of the total GDP at market prices in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of the financial year 2019/20.2 However, our field visits, consultations and the review of secondary data has revealed shortages in accommodation facilities for tourists within the region, especially in Kabarole and Kasese districts. Therefore, an international and local investor looking for an investment grade opportunity with acceptable returns will look to invest in a chain of luxury accommodation within the region. Tourists find acceptable quality accommodation scarce across several districts within the region.
HIGH END COTTAGES
AMOUNT: US$3,000,000
LOCATION: 10 NATIONAL PARKS
The project will construct 100 cottages for tourist accommodation. The project seeks to address bed shortage in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori, Semuliki, Kibale, Elgon, Murchison falls, Kidepo & Lake Mburo.In the high tourism season, there’s a 50% shortage of beds in the national parks.
SOURCE OF THE NILE DEV’T
AMOUNT: US$150 Million
LOCATION: SOURCE OF THE NILE, JINJA
The project is meant to build infrastructure around the source of the Nile such as public infrastructure (beautified), Cultural centres, Entertainment facilities, Hotel and recreation, Tourism water activities , Zip lines, Information Centre, Monuments and floating restaurants, alongside an improved golf already in existence for socio- economic benefits.Target market are tourists from all over the world, so the investments are to be first class.
ECO-TOURISM PRODUCTS
AMOUNT: US$ 1 – 55 MILLION
LOCATION: COUNTRYWIDE
There are numerous investments which can be undertaken in different national parks and en route to national parks. These opportunities include Luxury hotels, tented camps and cottages; House Boats, Cruise Launches on the Nile and Sport fishing on the Albert, Edward and George; Walking Safaris in the wilderness areas and the volcanic craters; Canopy Walkways in tropical forests and sky trams;
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